IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Hiotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIISTC«,N  Y    Msao 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  c 
to  th( 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Featuras  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lareliure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lore  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmantaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


n 

D 

0 

D 

0 
n 

D 
D 

0 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  in^gale  de  I'impresslon 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t*  film^es  A  nouveau  de  faqon  d 
obtenir  la  meillaure  image  possible. 


Thei 
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Origii 
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other 
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begir 

right 

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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous 

1 

1 

10X 

r-^ 

1 — 1 

14X 

1 1 

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1 — 1 

aox 

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The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

New  Brunswicic  IVIuseum 
Saint  Jolin 


L'exenf>plaire  filmi  fut  reproduit  grdce  ^  la 
g^nirosit^  de: 

New  Brunswick  IVIuseum 
Saint  John 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  I'axemplaire  film^,  et  en 
conformity  avec  lea  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impree- 
sion,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  iiluatrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  iiluatrated  impression. 


Lss  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmis  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  an  commandant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  laat  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  dee  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  ^^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  bo  filmed  at 
different  reduction  retioa.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ere  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illuatrate  the 
method: 


Lea  cartaa,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  etre 
filmAs  i  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmA  i  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  it  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  baa,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Lea  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^lthoda. 


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THE 


ENGLISH 

AMERICA; 


FBOU     THE 

FIRST  ENGLISH  DISCOYEPJES 

TO    THE 

frese:x^t    d^y. 

HENRY  HOWARD  BROWNELL,  A.  M. 

IXCLUDKG 

THE  BUAVE  DEEDS,  STRUGGLES,  AXD  STPPERINGS  OP  THE  COIjOXIES:  THE  FKENCII  AND 

INDIAN  WAllS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  THE  PIIOVINCES;  THE  AMEllICAN 

REV0I,UT;0N  ;  the  recent  growth  of  the  PROVINCES  AND  STATES ; 

THEIR  PRESENT  CONDITION,  FUTURE  PRftSI'ECTS,  ETC.,  ETC.; 

wrra 

XUMKUOUS  SPLENDID  STEEL  PLATE  ENGRAVINGS, 

IXCtCDIXO 

PORTRAITS,  SCENERY,  CmES,  PUBLIC  EDIFICES,  ETC. 


nURLBUT,   KELLOGG  &  CO., 

AMEIIICAX   SUDSCRIl'TIOX   PUDLISULXG   HOUSE, 

^arlforir,   (foan. 

1861. 


I   . 


it 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  tho  year  18G0,  by 

IIURLBUT,  KELLOGG,  &  CO., 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  tlio  District  Court  of  Connecticut 


\ 


B.   B.  HOBBS,   STEn£OTYPB!l, 


WILLIAUU  AMI)   WILBV.  PKuNICiiA, 


I 


« 


INTKODUCTIOJf. 


The  present  volume  contains  a  view  of  one  of  the  grand- 
est demonstrations  of  human  energy  which  lias  ever  marked 
tlio  history  of  any  people.  This  is,  tlie  long  series  of  enter- 
prises, hardships,  and  labors,  carried  on  uith  unflagging 
energy  For  more  than  two  liundred  vears  bv  the  Anglo-Saxon 
race  of  E-ngland,  and  which  has  resulted  in  the  trans- 
plantation of  their  laws,  civilization  and  polity,  into  a  new 
half  of  the  world  ;  and  the  erection  upon  the  fairest  and 
best  territory  of  North  America,  of  two  vast  empires,  the 
United  States  and  the  North  American  Colonial  dominions 
of  the  crown  of  Great  Britain. 

The  progress  of  these  two  commonwealths — for  such 
they  may  be  called,  notwithstanding  the  suljdivisions  which 
exist  more  especiallj'  in  the  British  portion  of  the  continent — 
has  hitherto  been  in  the  main  an  unbroken  career  of  pros- 
perity. The  early  daj's  of  all  the  separate  colonies  were 
alTlicted  with  llie  evils  and  hardships  which  must  necessa- 
rily vex  the  pioneers  of  a  civilized  race,  thrown  amidst  for- 
ests, wild  beasts,  savages  and  foemen  ;  but  the  suflerings 
and  struggles  of  a  hardy  youth  have  given  them  a  strength 
and  sohditv  of  character,  which  have  ever  since  been  their 
best  reliance. 

^\  plienomcnon  hitherto  never  seen  in  the  world's  his- 
toi-y,  has  marked  that  of  the  Anglo-Americans.  The  new 
people  brought  learning  and  religion  with  them,  and  founded 


1 


IV 


INTRODUCTION. 


their  state,  not  merely  as  a  trading  post  or  a  farm,  but  with 
all  the  fair  and  full  lineaments  of  an  empire  ;  with  church, 
schools,  laws,  morals,  and  society,  all  matured  and  adjusted 
with  a  wisdom  far  greater  than  its  possessors  were  conscious 
of  As  the  material  growth  of  their  community  went  on, 
therefore,  its  mind  and  morals  kept  pace  ;  and  its  internal 
health,  and  the  strength  of  its  contexture,  maintains  a  right 
proportion  to  the  rapid  growth  of  its  territory,  population, 
and  wealth. 

There  is  every  reason  to  hope  that  the  same  Divine  power 
which  has  thus  far  watched  over  the  progress  of  the  Anglo- 
American  race,  will  continue  to  grant  its  protection  ;  and 
that  the  career,  of  which  the  following  pages  present  a  his- 
tory, is  to  continue  until  they  shall  reach  a  far  loftier  station 
among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  than  even  that  high  one  to 
which  they  have  already  ascended. 


'J 


r... 


1 


CONTENTS. 


^^^^^^^^^^^^■/^f^^rf^ 


THE   ENGLISH  IN   AMERICA. 

EARLT  V0TA0E3  AND  ATTEMPTS  AT  COLOHIZATIOK. 

OHAPTBR  I.  PAa« 

Sebastian  Cabot— Ills  Youth— His  First  Voyage,  and  Discovery  of  North  America;  His  Second  Voy- 
age, and  Futile  Attempt  at  Colonization;  Obscure  Interval  In  his  Life;  he  serves  in  Spain;  His 
Expedition  under  Henry  VHI. ;  Appointed  Grand  Pilot  of  Spain;  His  Expedition  to  South  Amer- 
ica; His  Return  to  England,  Services,  Old  Age,  and  Death, •    H 

CHAFTXR    II. 

The  "Domlnus  Vobiscnm "—Failure  and  Misfortune;  Improvement  of  the  English  Marine;  Martin 
Frobiflher— His  Voyage  in  Search  of  a  North-west  Passngo;  Diminutive  Equipmcnto  of  the  Early 
Discoverers;  Supposed  Discovery  of  Gold  Ore ;  Second  Expedition  of  Frobisher;  Surveys;  Con- 
tost  with  the  Esquimaux;  His  Third  Expedition;  its  Failure, 32 

OBAFTIR   III, 

English  Enterprise;  Drake;  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert;  His  First  Attempt  to  CoIoniM  America;  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh ;  Sir  Humphrey  Sails  for  America ;  Shipwrecks  and  Misfortunes ;  the  Return  Voy- 
age; Tcmposts;  Loss  of  Sir  Humphrey  and  his  Crow, '^ 

OBAPTSR  IT. 

The  Patent  of  Raleigh :  he  Dispatches  Amldas  and  Barlow  to  Carolina— their  Report ;  the  Country 
named  Virginia ;  Voyages  of  Davis,  tc. ;  Second  Expedition  of  Raleigh,  under  Lane ;  Settlement 
at  Roanoke;  Folly  and  Cruelty  of  the  English ;  the  Indians;  Massacre  by  the  English;  Failure  and 
Return  of  the  Expedition, SO 

CHAPTIR  ▼. 

Small  Settlement  planted  by  Grenville  at  Roanoke  Destroyed  by  the  Indians ;  Third  Expedition  of 
Raleigh ;  First  English  Child  in  America ;  Loss  and  Supposed  Destruction  of  the  Roanoke  Colony ; 
Misfortunes  of  Raleigh ;  Tardiness  and  Ill-fortune  of  English  Enterprise ;  Reflections, 33 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF   VIRGINIA. 
OBAPTSR   I. 

Memoir  of  Captain  John  Smith ;  HIi  Youthful  Adventures  and  Services ;  he  turns  Hermit ;  Ills  Ad- 
ventures in  France ;  he  Is  flung  Overboard ;  8ea-flght ;  Travels  In  Italy ;  His  Campaign  agninst  the 
Turks ;  Siege  of  Regail ;  the  Three  Turks'  Heads ;  Smith  sent  a  Slave  to  Tartory— his  Wonderful 
Escape;  Subsequent  Adventures;  Returns  to  England, 30 

CHAFTXR   II. 

Virginian  Colonization  Revived ;  Patent  of  James  L ;  Ill-assorted  Company  of  Settlers;  the  Expedi- 
tion Sails  for  America;  Accidentally  enters  James  River ;  lll-trcatmcnt  of  Smith;  Intercourse  with 
the  Indians;  Jamestown  Founded;  Excursion  of  Smith  and  Newport;  Powhatan;  the  Indians  of 
Virginia, 49 


CBAPTBR   III. 

Trial  and  Vindication  of  Smith;  Famine  and  Terrible  Mortality;  Smith,  by  his  Exertions, supports 
the  Colony ;  Treachery  of  his  Associates ;  Dealings  with  the  Indians ;  Idle  and  Miserable  Colonists, 


48 


CONTENTS. 


.    I 


CnAPTSR   IV.  PAO* 

Expedition  and  Capture  of  Smith— his  Strange  Adventures  among  the  Indians ;  Conjurations  performed 
orer  him;  he  is  Carried  to  Powhaian ;  His  Life  Saved  by  Pocahontas;  Strange  Masquerade  of 
Powoalan;  Release  and  Roturu  uf  Smith, 40 

CHAPTBR   V. 

Prirations  of  the  Colonists ;  Relieved  by  Pocahontas;  Arrival  of  Newport  from  England;  Intercoarw 
«nd  TralBcw  lib  Powhaian;  Blue  Beads  for  Crown  Jewels;  Imaginary  Gold  Mine;  Smith's  Voyage 
io  the  Cbe^peakc ;  Interviews  with  numerous  Native  Tribes ;  Sling-ray  Point ;  Ilia  Retani........    S3 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Emitb  made  President;  he  Resumes  the  Survey;  the  Suequehannas;  Adventures  with  the  Indiana; 
Rt-markablc  Feat  of  Survey  ;  Return  to  Jamestown ;  Arrival  of  Newport;  Absurd  InitructioM  of 
the  E:ieli!-h  Company;  the  Coronation  of  Powhatan;  Unsuccessful  Attempt  of  Newport  tofliJil  ibe 
South  Sea, , S& 

CHAPTIR   VII. 

Plot  asain^  Smith;  His  Letter  to  the  Company ;  His  Efforts  to  Support  the  Colony;  Expedition  to 
Surprise  Powhaian ;  Artful  Speeches,  and  Mutual  Treachery ;  the  Kuylish  again  Saved  by  Pocahonlas,    S0 

CHAPTKR  VIII. 

Tbe  Plot  at  Pamunkey— Defeated  by  the  Daring  and  Energy  of  Smith ;  the  Ojlony  Supplied ;  Smith 
Poi»oDt?d;  Ilia  Unstrupulous  Policy;  His  Fight  with  the  King  of  Paspahegh:  "Pretty  Accdt-nt*" 
among  tbc  ludiaus, 01 

OriAPTHR    IS. 

IiUenea!  of  the  .Settlers ;  Eloquent  Speech  and  Vigorous  Policy  of  Smith  ;  thuNc  ,  Vi rglnia  Company ; 
t'DjuH  ABfumption  of  Power;  Smith  Deposed;  Great  Expedition  disp'Uched  from  England— IJl- 
f(/nujie;  Arrival  of  Numerous  Immigrants ;  Anarchy;  Smith  Rcassumes  the  Presidency, M 

CIIAPTSR    X. 

Futile  AuempUat  Founding  Now  Sctllemet>ta ;  Folly  and  Obslinmy  of  ihe  Colonists ;  Smith  ternbly 
Injurwl;  lie  Returns  to  England;  His  Services  to  the  Colony;  Awful  Suffering  and  Mortality  after 
hi*  I>epartur«, , 07 

CHAPTRR    21. 

ITfmoiri'f  Smith,  continued  anj  concluded;  Ills  VoyBgo  to  New  Englai  i,  and  Surreys;  His  S.-critxl 
Eipoliiion;  His  Adventures  nniong  llio  Piiates-his  Escape;  His  Great  ilicrtions  for  Ihe  g<>ltl* 
Citnt  of  Niw  England;  Interesliiig  Inlervicw  beiween  Smith  and  Poco'nontas  in  Englomi;  L±j>t 
Yeanof  Smith;  Ilia  Death;  His  Character  and  Achievomenla, M 

CBAPTBR   SII. 

Arriral  of  Gat» ;  Miserable  Condition  of  the  Colony  ;  Jamestown  Do(iorte<l ;  Arrival  of  I>ord  Dels- 
ware — t'f  i-ir  Thomas  Dale;  Exertions  of  the  Company;  Increased  Immigration;  Ihe  Cullnre  <4 
ToLscco  inUoduc<Hl,  and  Eiu/erly  Pursued  ;  Tyranny  of  Argall— his  Displacement;  Great  Anu.iaioa 
of  In-mi^raiiu;  Wives  purchased  with  Tobacco;  Liberal  Concessions  to  the  Culonista, 77 

CII/.PTBR    XIII. 

IVyaii  noTerr.or ;  Negro  Slavery  Introduced ;  Death  of  Powhatan  and  Succession  of  Opechancximqirh ; 
V\<A  DcviMiJ  by  the  Latter ;  Terrible  Massacre  of  the  English  ;  Depression  of  the  Colony ;  I'surpa- 
\iija  of  the  Pati-ot  by  James  I.J  Prudent  Policy  toward  the  Coloniste, gD 

THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  NEW  ENGLAND. 

OUAPTKH   I. 

L'nsoctewful  Attf  mpla  of  Ihe  Plymouth  Company  to  Selllo  New  England ;  Perternlion  of  the  Vnif 
c»nfLnni>t«;  Retreat  of  Robinson's  Congreualion  to  Holland— llieir  High  Chnrnctor— their  Ih-tolo- 
lion  to  Plant  a  Colony— their  Loyally  and  Courano— Departure  from  uelft  Huveii, 83 

C'lAPTITB    II. 

9iomj  Voyacp  of  the  Pilgrims  to  America;  l*n>y  Arrive  at  Capo  Cod— are  Compelled  to  Iiiwirbwk 
—Inftitute  k  Republic ;  their  Simple  C'>nstltution  ;  Carver  elected  Governor ;  Abm^nce  of  Perianal 
Ambitiuo  among  tl.e  Puritan  Settlers, M 

OHAl'TRK    III 

Urvary  Appexranecof  New  riiirlntid  ;  Erploriiig  Parly;  Strange  Inju!»licn  to  the  Indi^ins;  Ttic  Vi>y»(« 
V.t  P!)m<juih  Harbour;  Skirmish  with  tho  Savago-i;  Helllenient  of  Plymouth  Fnundtd;  Grew  Pu^ 
(cTtng  aitJ  Mortality  among  tho  Pilgrlinit, tk 


II 


%  A 


i 


CONTENTS.  7 

OBA.FTXR  IV.                                                                           vAam 
The  Indians  of  Now  England — thinned  by  PeBtileiice ;  the  Poquots,  Narragnnsotts,  and  other  Tribes  •, 
Extmuj'duiary  Upuiioua  of  the  Cngliah  couccruiiig  tlium ;  Diguted  Aocuunts  uf  the  Ancient  Hia'.o- 
ripus,  etc, Si 

OHAPTKR   V. 

8amo9ct— «  Welcome,  Ertglishmcn ;"  the  Visit  of  Massiisoil ;  Treaty  and  Alliance ;  Mortality  among 
the  Culonlata;  Death  of  Governor  Carver ;  Duel,  and  its  I'unishniciit ;  Visit  to  Mussaaoit— to  lyan- 
ough  ;  Alfccting  Incident, 9j 

onArxER  VI. 
Arrival  of  the  Fortune;  Challenge  from  Canoniciis— his  Su]iCr>^tition9  Bread;  Plymouth  Fnrlidi'd; 
vVestiiii'3  Colony  at  ^Vtymouth -its  Miserable  Condition;  Mast-iiaoit  111— cured  by  tlie  Kiis/lish; 
Dangerous  Plot  Revealed, OH 

Cn.^PTEIl    VII. 

Expedition  of  Standish  to  Weymouth  ;  Daring  Pcilicy  ;  Slaughter  of  the  Conspiring  Indians ;  the  Col- 
ony of  Westiin  llroken  up;  Privations  and  t-nlfcringsat  Pis  mouth — Drought— rieasonable  c^upply  uf 
Ualn;  Additional  Arrival, 10) 

CnAfTBR   VUI. 

New  fSeltlements  Founded;  New  Hampshire  and  Maine;  Endicolt'a  Company;  the  Revellers  of 
Merry  Mount — Broken  up  by  the  Puritans;  Settlement  of  Mivssachusetts;  Foundation  of  llo.-toii ; 
Great  Emigraliuii ;  MortaKty  and  t^utfLrijig, 101 

CHArXKIl    IX. 

Character  of  the  Founders  of  Massachusetts;  Reaulati.ins  for  Public  Morality— for  Apparel,  etc.; 
Amusing  Penalties;  Intolerance  in  Religion;  Comtnencement  of  Persecution, 1U7 

CHAPTEU    X. 

Rev.  Rocor  Williams;  His  Liberal  Opinions;  ho  is  Pen-teuted  by  the  Authorities  of  Massacliu.sell^; 
Expelled  from  that  Province ;  takes  Refuge  in  the  Wilderness ;  Founds  Providence  Pluntulions  and 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island, 1U9 

CnATTHB    XI. 

Seltlemont  of  Connecticut  by  Plymouth— by  Massachusetts;  llard.thips  of  the  Colonists;  Fouiidalion 
iif  llarll'r)rd,etc;  Emigration  under  Hooker— New  Haven  FouTided ;  ComminCfUient  of  the  I'eciuot 
War;  Influence  of  Roger  Williams, 113 

CHAPTKR  xn. 
The  Pequot  War,  Continued ;  tho  Attack  on  Wethersllcld ;  Exppcliti(m  under  Mason;  Surpri-^e  niul 
Slorniinnof  the  Pequot  Fort— Terrible  Slaughter  and  Cuiillagralioii ;  Fjnul  Defeat  and  Deslrueliim 
of  the  Tribe;  Barburuus  Exultation  of  tho  Eaily  llisloriaus;  Reflections, 114 

THE   SETTLEMENT   OF    MARYLAND. 

cnAPTF.re  I. 
Sir  fieorire  Cidvert— his  Pchemes  for  Pettlemenls  in  America— he  (Iblnlns  the  Grant  of  MaiylamI— 
Founds  a  l.'olony  there;  Setlli'nii'til  of  St.  Mury's  ;  Kclalions  wilh  the  Indians;  E.x|iiils!iin  uf  cluy- 
b  irne ;  Diatuntent  and  Insurrection ;  Protestant  Settlers ;  Act  for  tho  Toleration  of  lOl  Christian  Seels,  1  lb 

cnAPT/tn  II. 
Arhltrorj  Kystem  of  Lord  nnltimorc;  DisalTeclion  of  the  Protestant  Settlers;  Intprferoncoof  tlie  Vii^ 
f;uiia  CoinmissionerBt  Affairs  in  F,i:«land ;  Triumph  of  the  Protestants;  ni'pcal  of  Tnleralion  ; 
Civil  War;  Vielory  of  tho  Protestants;  Feudall's  in.-urreclion— his  Success  and  Final  Uuhi;  Tcples'- 
atluli  Restored 131 


YIRarSlA — CONTINUED. 

cnAPTirn  I. 
BeiRn  of  Chartes  I.— his  Views  of  Vbglnln ;  Vi'ardley,  (.'overnor—Wefil— Harvey— Iil«  Drp^ihllion  by 
till'  I'eiiple -lie  is  Supporleil  by  the  tVown  ;  \\jiet;  Sir  William  llrrKeley,  (Jovcrnor;  I.oyiilly  of 
the  C.iloiiy  ;  Per'-ecullon  of  Dliwnlers;  Second  Indi.iiiCoiisplraey  and  .Mas.'aore;  ( )pei'hiuie.iiiiiui'h 
a  Pritoiior— his  Spei-ch— Murdered  by  a  Soldier;  Iteiliieli.m  of  the  liMhans;  Tiiumph  of  liie  Piiii- 
taut  III  England  ;  Royulist  EniiRralion  lu  Virginia;  Lojaliy  of  tho  Pruviiice IM 


^ 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAP.ER   II.  PAOa 

Ad  for  thn  Rodiiclion  of  Virtfitiio;  tlio  Navigation  Act;  Moilcratioc  of  the  Parliamont ;  Siibmisaion 
of  thy  Pioviiicc;  Ileiinctt,  Covoriior — Digits — Mathews;  Jealousy  of  the  Assembly  against  Foreign 
Interference  ;  Freedom  and  Prosperity  of  Virginia  under  the  Commonwealth  ;  Death  of  Cromwell ; 
Berkeley,  Governor ;  Restoration  of  Charles  II. ;  its  111  Effect  on  the  Province, 127 

NEW  ENGLAND — CONTINUED. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Inimical  Meusures  adopted  in  England  ;  Spirit  of  Massachusetts— Threat  of  Revolt ;  the  English  Rev- 
olution; Industry  and  Prosperity  of  New  England— its  Independence;  New  Hampshire  Annexed 
to  Mussacliusetts ;  Formation  of  the  New  England  Confederacy, 130 

CH&PTXB   II. 

Uncus  and  Minntonimo;  Defeat  and  Death  of  the  Latter;  Discredit  to  the  English;  Rhode  Island — 
its  Liberties  Guaranteed  by  the  Parliament;  Letter  to  Sir  Henry  Vane  ;  Remarkable  Freedom  En- 
Joyed  there;  Maine  Annexed  by  Massachusetts, , 13C 

CnAPTZU   III. 

Opposition  to  the  Massachusetts  Authorities ;  Parliamentary  Encroachment  Resisted  and  Relinquished ; 
New  Eu^'land  Favoured  by  Cromwell ;  Bigoted  and  Intolerant  Laws  of  Massachusetls;  Persecution 
of  linijlisls;  the  Quakers— Persecution  of  them — Four  Executed— their  Courage  and  Fortitude; 
Apologists  for  the  Hangings;  Reflections, 136 

CHAPTBB  IV. 

Education  in  Massachusetts;  Harvard  College;  Restoration  of  Cliarlts  II.;  Oppressive  Enactments 
concerning  Commerce;  Attitude  of  the  Colonies;  VVintbrop,  the  Younger;  Connecticut  obtains 
a  Charter— her  Freedom  and  Prosperity, 141 

CHAPTER  v. 

The  Charter  of  Rhode  Island;  Civil  and  Religious  Liberty;  Careless  and  Extensive  Grants  of  Charles 
II  ;  the  Attitude  of  Massachusetis— Distrust  of  the  Restoration;  Requisitions  of  Charles  H. ;  Ap- 
poiucment  of  a  Commission;  Alarm  of  the  Colony, 143 

CHAPTER  ▼!. 
Remonstrance  of  Massachusetts ;  Doings  of  the  Commissioners— their  Disputes  with  the  Authorities— 
their  Discoinflturu  and  Return  to  England ;  Successful  Resistance  of  Maiisacliusetts ;  Inertness  of 
the  Crown;  Prosperity  and  Trade  of  the  Province, MS 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Condili  in  of  the  Now  England  Indians— Conversion  of  some  of  them— their  Numbers  and  Strength ; 
the  Pokanokets;  Mctacomet,  or  King  Philip— his  Grievances— Dissimulation— Scheme  for  the  De- 
struction of  the  English ;  Captain  Church— his  Character,  etc- ho  Disconceru  on  lulhguc  of  Philip,  147 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Conimoncoment  of  Philip's  War;  Exploit  of  Church s  Retreat  of  the  Indians;  Philip  Rotises  the 
Trilws;  Dcstrnclion  of  Towns,  etc;  the  Attack  on  Hudlcy— Repulsed  byGolfe;  Great  I^jsses  of  the 
English  ;  Siiringflelii  Burned, 130 

CHAPTER    IX. 

Philip's  War,  continued;  Destruction  of  the  Niirrugnnsett  Fort— Terrililo  Ma.«»acre;  Malltmunt  Exul- 
Inlioiicf  llie  Early  Historians;  Indian  Successes;  Capture  and  Death  of  Canonchet— his  Heroism 
and  .\Iiii<nniiiinily ;  Diplomacy  of  Church, *.  153 

CHAPTER    X. 

Philip's  War,  ronlinued;  Successful  Camp;ilgn  of  Church;  Defeat  and  Capture  of  the  Pav-ines;  Phil- 
ip's Dcspiilr— he  Kelreals  to  Mount  Hope— is  Defeated  and  Slain— Barbarous  Exposure  of  his  Ro- 
niiiins— his  Character, I M 

CHAPTER    XI. 

Philip's  War,  conclu Jid  ;  Capture  of  Annnwon  and  his  Wsrrlors.  by  Church ;  Romantic  Incidents ; 
Puniniary  of  the  \V;ir;  Philip's  Son;  nnrbaroUH  Policy  of  the  Victors;  Murderous  Advice;  Hie 
Clinrarter  of  the  Puritans ;  Reflections, IS8 

CMAPTKR    XII. 

Rcni-wpd  InlctferctiM  of  Ihe  Crfiwii  In  Mnfsnchusetls;  Sevoraneit  of  Now  llampshlro— Attempt  to 
T.Miifiiiic  lh.T(>—ilM  Failure;  Action  of  Ma-^achuHelts;  Proceedings  acain>t  its  Charter;  Vain  Op. 
position  and  Uemonslronce ;  the  Charier  Animllod, IGl 


A 

1 


S£l  . 


CONTENTS. 


IJT   OF   THE   CAUOLINAS. 


9 


Failure  to  Plant  Colonies  in  the  South ;  F.r  ration  from  Virginia  to  North  Carolina— from  Bnrbadocs 
to  South  Carolina ;  the  Patent  of  Charles  II. ;  LegiBlation  of  Locke  and  Shnftcsbury  ;  Cumbrous 
Pystem  of  Government;  Discontent  of  thnS'-'*''>r8;  Insurrection  in  North  Carolina ;  Sothel  deposed 
by  the  People;  Charleston  Founded;  CXinstitution  of  Locke  Relinquished, 164 

VIEGINIA — CONTINUED. 
CHAPTIB  I. 

Retrograde  Movements  in  Virjidnia ;  Revival  of  Intolerance  and  Oppression ;  Grant  of  Virginia  to 
Culpepper  and  Arlington;  Popular  Discontent;  Indian  War;  Murder  of  the  Chiefs;  Insurrection 
under  Uucon ;  Triumph  of  the  People, , I6S 

CHAPTIB   II. 

The  Popular  Assembly;  Measures  of  Reform;  Opposition  and  Treachery  of  Berkeley;  Civil  War; 
Triumph  of  thclnsurgents ;  Jamestown  Burned;  Death  of  Bacon— his  Character ;  Ruin  of  the  Pop- 
ular Cause;  Numerous  Executions;  Death  of  Berkeley;  Administration  of  Culpepper,  etc., 170 

THE   SETTLEMENT  OF   DELAWARE. 

The  First  Dutch  Colony  in  Delaware- its  Destruction;  Swedes  and  Finns  under  MInuit;  Conquest 
of  the  Swedish  Settlements  by  the  Dutch,  under  Stuyvesant;  Delaware  under  the  Duko  of  York — 
under  Penn;  Disputes  with  Maryland  conceruinij  Boundaries;  Separation  of  Delaware  from 
Pennsylvania, 174 

THE   SETTLEMENT  OF   NEW  JERSET 

Conquest  by  (he  English ;  Nichols,  Berkeley,  and  Carteret ;  Emigration  from  New  England ;  Side  of 
West  New  Jersey  to  the  Quakers ;  Fenwick,  Byllinge,  and  Penn  ;  Quaker  Settlements ;  Remiirki.bly 
Free  Constitution;  Friendly  Dealings  with  tho  Indians;  Usurpation  of  Andios— its  Deleal;  Eiu*t 
New  Jersey, 178 

THE   SETTLEMENT  OF   PENNSYLVANIA. 

cuAPriR  I. 
William  Penn— his  Youth— he  turns  Quaker- Is  Expelled  from  Collfge  and  Home— Imprisoned  for 
his  Opinions— Severity  of  his  Father— Fresh  Imprisonment — Exertions  in  Behalf  of  his  Sect- ho 
Engages  iu  the  Settlement  of  New  Jersey, , 17S 

CHAPTIB    It. 

Penn  obtains  from  Charles  11.  the  Grant  of  Pennsylvania- his  Admirable  Proclamation  to  the  Set- 
tlers—he Repairs  to  America— Gains  Possession  of  Delaware— Honourable  Dealings  with  the  In- 
dians—their Attachment  to  him;  the  Great  Treaty IHl 

CHAPTIB   III. 

Liberal  Leglslntlon  of  Pennsylvania;  Penn  Founds  Philadelphia— Its  Rnpid  Increase;  Furnialion  of 
a  Constitution;  Great  Emigration  from  Europe ;  Growth  of  the  Province;  Penn  returns  t»  Ell^l^lld  ; 
His  Subsequent  Career, 184 

THK   NORTHERN   COLONIES — CONTINUED. 

CHAPTIB    I. 

6lr  Edmund  Andros  Commissioned  by  the  Duko  of  York— his  Attempts  to  Extend  Ills  Authority  over 
Connecticut;  Thomas  Dongan ;  1'nlonof  the  Colonies  under  a  Royal  Governor;  Andros  appointed 
Governor-general ;  Oppression  in  the  Colonies ;  Procerdings  against  Connecticut  and  Rhode  tslnml ; 
Andros's  Visit  to  Connecticut;  Preservation  of  the  Charter;  the  Northern  Provinces  forced  to  Sub- 
mission ;  Doings  In  New  England  upon  tho  Occurrence  of  the  Revolution  of  1(388, 187 

CHAPTIB    II, 

Kew  York  Subsequent  to  the  Revolution  of  lOtf ;  Assumption  of  Authority  by  Jsenb  T*lslor— Oppo. 
lltlon  by  the  Oiuncll ;  Indian  Incursions;  Arrival  of  Sloughter  as  Governor;  Trial  and  Extcution 
of  Lulslor  and  Milbouma;  t>ilonel  Fletcher— his  Futile  Attempt  to  Enforce  Authority  in  tkiimectl- 
eut;  Church  Difltcultles;  Bellamunl's  Peaceable  Administration;  Captain  Kidd,  the  Pirate, IPI 


i  i 


10 


CONTENTS. 


CnATTEK    III.  lAOS 

Now  Charter  of  Massaclmselts ;  Trials  for  Witcticrul't  in  SaKm;  First  Exucution;  Pfirria  and  his 
l^iraily;  Court  uf  Examination  at  Suleni;  Collun  Matlier;  Arrival  of  riii|ii)s;  Numerous  Lxocu- 
UoDs;  CoufcBsluns;  Crueltius  Infliutvd ;  Cbungo  in  Tul^lic  Opinion, ItM 

ClIArXFK    IV. 

Curtrovcrey  Concerning  Revenue;  Suspected  Nei?ro  Revolt  in  New  York— Mock-trials  of  the  Accusea 
— Barbarous  Punishments ;  Connecticut — the  !?a)brook  Piutfi/rm  ;  Massiichusetis— Burning  of  ULCr- 
field— Difflcullics  between  the  Covernors  and  Assemblies;  New  IIanip,>-hiro — Attack  on  Cocn(^c(j — 
Eiistcrn  Indian  War;  Rliode  I:-laiid— ita  Commercial  Pros|ierily  ;  New  Jersey-Opposition  to  Arbl- 
trury  Taxation— Scotch  lininijjration- rros])erily  of  iho  Colony— its  Union  with  New  York, 197 

THE    SOUTHERN   COLC.MES CO.NTIXUED. 

CHAPTKR    I. 

Charter  of  the  Colony  of  Ceorcia;  First  Arrival  of  Colonists;  Settlement  of  Savannah;  Indian  Nego- 
tiations; Mary  Mubgrove;  Cession  o(  Indian  Claims;  Character  of  Immigrants  to  Georgia;  Trafilo 
iu  Negroes  Prohibited ;  Frederica  Founded  ;  War  with  Spain, 303 

CUAPIHR   II. 

Oglethorpe's  Expedition  ngainst  St.  Auuustine — Sieseof  the  Town— Failure  and  Return  of  the  V.x- 
pedition  ;  Spanish  Invasion  in  17-li ;  Defence  of  Fredcrica;  Slrat!i(,'em  of  Oglethorpe;  Thomas 
Uosomworth— his  Intrigues  with  the  Indians— Litigation  with  the  Colony  ;  Georgiaa  Royal  Province,  209 

CIIAl'TKH    III. 

South  Carolina— Religious  Controversies— Archdale's  Adminislrntion— Moore's  Expedition  againat 
8t.  Augustine— Invasion  of  Indian  Territory— French  Fleet  on  Iho  Coast— Culture  of  Rico— Indiiui 
Consjriraej — Revolt  against  the  Proprietors — the  Charter  declared  Forfeit— South  Carolina  a  Royal 
Province  ;  North  Carolina — Political  Disturbances— a  Prosiierous  Anarchy — Se|iaralion  from  South 
Carolina, 909 

CHArXHR  IV. 

>^irginla  under  Rnyal  Governors — Stale  of  the  Colony— Church  Ciuitroversics;  PennsylvmiiaaRojal 
Province— the  Proprietor  Reinstated — Policy  of  Penii ;  Delaware — Death  of  Penn— his  S  icceisoi's; 
Maryland — its  Catholic  Population— Government  of  the  Association- Ojipressivo  ynaclr.ents--tl!0 
Proj)rietors  Restored, 3)1 

INDIAN    WARS,    ETC. 
CHAPTKR   I. 

t,'oramenceinent  of  the  Cherokee  War — Treaty  at  Fort  St.  George — Sieeo  of  that  Fort— Murder  of 
llostatres— Montgomery's  Campaign— Deslruelion  of  the  Lower  Cherokeu  Settlements- Retreat- 
Massacre  of  the  (larrison  of  Fort  Loudon — the  Towns  of  Iho  Sliddle  Cherokees  destroyed  by  the 
t'oreea  under  Grant, 'Hi 

OHAPTER    II 

Eiinlish  Occuiiiition  of  the  Western  Tradins  Post«;  Conspiracy  of  Iho  Norlh-wcslern  Tribes,  under 
Pontiac;  Destruction  of  the  English  Forts;  Taking  of  Micliillimaekinuc;  Siego  of  Detroit;  Lost 
Ut  Uluody-run  ;  Close  of  the  War;  Massacre  of  the  Caneatoga  Indians, SIS 

EUROPEAN   COLONIAL   POLICY. 

KjunlBh  and  Tngllsh  nestrlcllons  upon  Trade  nnil  Commerce;  Conlraband  Traffic ;  the  "  Aeslento" 
Tivaty  ;  the  Slave-trmle— its  General  Popularity-CaMsis  which  lead  to  the  Abolition  of  Slavery — 
Manner  of  Piocnring  Negroes  Horn  AlViea— Pr.illl  of  the  Trade- Nnmlieis  broctdil  over— English 
IiKW  opon  ItiD  Subject  of  Slavery ;  Introductioii  of  Whilo  Apprenlice»,  or  >'  Redemptluners," CS 

THE   AMEinCAN    KEVOLUTION. 
ORAPTRR    I. 

General  Richts of  Cnlonlp* ;  Party  Cnti'es  of  Ccmplali.l  In  Anierlfa;  Arliitrnry  Cti'tom  Imws;  (llnpil 
Coinluet  of  Flnglish  Oflleials;  Acts  in  Heuulatii'li  of  Traile  ;  F.xpen-is  uf  tho  Latu  Wars  in  i^iuer- 
Iob;  the  "Hu^ufoct ;"  Oppoiilion  and  Uuniunslrauco  lu  tb«  Culuiiev, .   SBI7 


1 


CONTENTS. 


11 


194 


107 


203 


2U9 


SOB 


3IJ 


ilS 


21S 


CHAPTEH   II.  PAQI 

The  Stamp  Act— Argument  in  the  House  of  Commons— Passage  of  the  Bill — its  Effect  in  the  Colonies ; 
Resolutions  in  the  Virginia  Assembly ;  Patrick  Henry ;  Proceedings  in  Ma  .achusetts- Popular 
T;.mults— Resignation  of  the  Stamp  Officers, 230 

CBAFTIR   III. 

Boseion  of  the  First  American  Congress — Moderate  Tone  of  its  Proceedings— Concurrence  of  the  Sep- 
arate Colonies;  the  Stamp  Act  Nugatory;  the  English  Ministry;  Debate  in  Parliament;  Speech 
of  Pitt    Examination  of  Franklin;  Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act, 234 

CHAPTJCR   IV. 

Ioti.-rval  of  Quiet ;  New  Taxes  on  Importations ;  Non-importation  Agreement;  Circular  of  Massachu- 
setts ;  Riots  at  Boston  ;  Assemblies  Dissolved  ;  Troops  Ordered  to  Boston ;  Measures  of  the  British 
Government;  Fatal  Encounter  between  the  Troops  and  Populace  at  Boston;  Concessions  of 
Purliament, 238 

CHAPTER  V. 

Party  Spirit  in  the  Colonies;  Whig  and  Tory;  the  Regulators  of  North  Carolina;  Hutchinson,  Gov- 
ernor of  Massachusetts;  Destruction  of  the  Gospee;  Sj stem  of  Political  Communication  between 
the  Colonies ;  Tea  dispatched  to  America  by  the  East  India  Conjpany  ;  Refusal  of  the  Colonists  to 
Receive  it ;  Violent  Proceedings  at  Boston— Closure  of  the  Port ;  Extensioa  of  Canada, .  243 

CHAPTEH   VI. 

Gage,  Governor  of  Massachusetts — Military  Preparations — Minute-men ;  Distress  in  Boston — Sympa- 
thy of  other  Towns;  Convention  Proposed  by  Virginia— Delegates  Chosen  by  the  Colonies;  the 
Continental  Congress — Resolutions  and  Declaration  Adopted;  Violent  Measures  of  Parliament,.      246 

•  Cn.\PTER   VII. 

Warlike  Preparations  in  Massnchnsetis ;  Troops  dispatched  to  Seize  Military  Stores;  First  B'ood 
Shvd  at  Lexington ;  Disastrous  Retreat  of  tlie  British  to  Boston  ;  Proceedings  in  the  Neighbouring 
Colonies;  Boston  Besieged  by  the  Provincials;  Concurrence  of  the  Soullierii  Colonies;  Second 
Kessiou  of  Congress;  Appointment  of  Onioers;  Seizuio  of  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderogn, 249 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

Condition  of  the  British  Army  in  Bo9t(m ;  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill;  Washington  at  the  Camp;  Con- 
gressional Proceedings;  the  Indian  Tribes;  Joseph  Brant;  Military  Preparations  in  tlio  Separate 
Colonics, 353 

CHAPTiCR    IX. 

Vacillating  Policy  of  England  ;  Provisions  by  Cungrcss  for  Carrying  on  the  War ;  Naval  Operations ; 
Expedition  against  Canada  ;  Siege  of  Fort  St.  .hjhn  ;  Allen's  Attempt  upon  Montreal ;  the  City  Oc- 
cupied by  Montgomery  ;  March  towards  Quebec, 257 

CIIM'TER    X. 

Arnold's  Expedition  against  Quebec— Passage  of  the  Wilderness- Failure  of  Provisions— Defection 
of  Enos,  .:h  his  tH)ininan(l— .\rrival  at  the  Cimadian  Settlements-Procliimations— Arnold  at  the 
Heights  of  Abraham-Union  with  Moiitijoniefy- Attack  on  ,  lebcc— Death  of  Montgomery— Mor- 
gan's Rifle  Corps — American  Forces  drawn  oir, ogg 

CHAPTER    XI. 

Warlike  Preparations  In  England;  Germin  Mercenaries;  Proceedings  of  Congress— Enlistments- 
Issue  of  Bills- Defences  in  New  York  ;  Condilion  of  the  Itrilish  in  Boston;  Oecnpniion  of  Dor- 
chester Heights;  Evacuation  of  the  City;  Hopkins'  Cruise  ninong  the  llahnir.as ;  Affairs  at  tlie 
South;  Attack  upon  Cbarleiton{  Retreat  of  the  American  Troops  from  Canada, 263 

CIIAPTHH    XII. 

Blato  of  Feeling  In  the  Colonies  ;  Painc's  Writings  ;  Debates  in  Congress ;  the  Declai.itlon  of  Inde- 
peiideiH-e— lis  Effi-ct  upon  the  People;  the  British  nt  Staten  bland;  Proclunmtlon  of  General  and 
of  Aitmiral  Howe, , ij(P 

•  hAPTKR    XIII. 

Landing  of  .Tio  British  on  Long  Island  ;  Bailie  of  Brooklyn  ;  the  American  Forres  Driven  from  I^)ng 
Island  ;  Oceupution  of  N.'W  Vmk  by  llie  British ;  WiiHliincloii'ii  Eiiciinipinent  at  Harlem  Heigtiu— 
■t  While  Plains,  Si.irining  of  Fort  Wiisliiniitnn ;  Iho  H.lri-iit  tliroinjli  N.'W  Jersey;  Capture  of 
General  'i.ee;  Condition  of  Prisoners;  l.iike  Chuinplain— Deslniction  of  tlio  American  Vesstls; 
Generodlly  of  Corleion ;  Rhode  IsluiU  Seliod  by  the  British, 870 


12 


CONTENTS. 


> 


I    {. 


CHAPTER    XIT.  FAQS 

Congress  nt  nallimwe;  Army  Organization;  Powers  Conferred  upon  Washington;  Passage  of  the 
Delaware,  and  Recovery  of  Trenton  ;  Buttle  of  Princeton ;  End  of  the  Campaign ;  Marauding  Par- 
ties; Negotiation  with  European  Powers;  Foreign  OfBcers  in  the  American  Service, S74 

CHAPTKB    XV. 

Expeditions  against  Peekskill  and  Danbury ;  British  Plan  of  Campaign ;  Howe's  Departure  from  New 
York;  Uurgoyne'a  Army— his  Proclamation;  Siege  of  Ticondcroga ;  Retrcalof  St.  Clair;  Burgoyne 
on  the  Hudson;  Siege  of  Fort  Schuyler;  Battle  of  Bennington ;  Indian  Warfare, 378 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

Buttles  at  Bchmus' Heights ;  Burgoyne's  Retreat  to  Saratoga — his  Surrender;  Detention  of  Prisoners; 
Expedition  from  Nuw  York  up  the  Hudson;  Howe's  March  upon  Philadelphia;  Battle  at  Brandy- 
wine  Creek;  British  Occupation  of  Philadelphia;  Buttle  of  Germantown ;  Reduction  of  Forts  Mif- 
flin and  Mercer;  VVinte^q^arter8  at  Valley  Forge, S81 

CHAPTER   XVII. 

Difnculties  of  Congress ;  Articles  of  Confederation ;  Recommendations  to  the  States ;  Intrigues  against 
Washington;  Treaties  with  France;  Britibh  Commissioners  in  America;  Evacuation  of  Philadel- 
ph'o;  Battle  of  Monmouth ;  Arrival  of  a  French  Fleet;  Attempt  on  Newport;  Winter-quarters; 
Marauding  Expeditions ;  Destruction  of  Wyoming, 385 

CHAPTER   XVIII. 

Invasion  of  Georgia;  Occupation  of  Savannah  ;  British  Division  under  Prevost ;  Lincoln  in  Command 
ut  the  South;  Defeat  of  Ashe  at  Briar  Creek ;  Attack  on  Charleston;  Sullivan's  Campaign  against 
the  Iroquois;  Naval  Operations  of  Franco  and  England ;  AttemptataRecovery  of  Savannah;  Fur- 
ther Naval  Proceedings— PaulJones;  Condition  of  the  Amcrici«>Army, 390 

OBAPTIB  ziz. 
Siege  of  Charleston— Surrender  of  the  City ;  South  Carolina  Occupied  by  the  British ;  Tarleton's  Le- 
gion— his  Victory  at  Wnxhaws;  Cornwallis  in  Command;  Defeat  of  the  Americans  at  Camden; 
Guerilla  Operations  of  Sumptcr  and  Marion;  Invasion  of  North  Carolina;  Ferguson's  Defeat  at 
King's  Mountain, 394 

CHAPTXR   ZZ. 

Northern  Operations;  Springfield  Burned ;  Arrival  of  the  French  Fleet  and  Forces— Blockade  at  New- 
port ;  Treason  of  Arnold ;  Trial  and  Execution  of  Major  Andri ;  Causes  of  Arnold's  Defection ;  In- 
dian Ravagea— Invasion  of  the  Mohawk  Valley  by  Johnson  and  Brant, 298 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

Revolt  of  the  Pennsylvania  Troops;  Arnold's  Expedition  into  Virginia;  Greene  in  Command  of  the 
Southern  Army ;  Morgan's  Detachment- Buttle  of  Cowpens— Pursuit  of  Morgan  by  Curnwnllis— 
Pas8!\go  of  the  Catawba- Retreat  Into  Virginia— Battle  of  Guilford  Court-house;  Greene's  March 
into  South  Carolina ;  Cornwallis  in  Virginia ;  Battle  at  Ilobkirk's'ilill ;  Seizure  of  British  Forts  by 
Marion  and  Lee, 301 

CHAPTER    XZII. 

War  between  England  and  Holland;  Seizure  and  Plunder  of  St.  Eustatins;  the  Armed  Neutrality; 
Recovery  of  West  Florida  by  Spain  ;  Continental  Currency  ;  Plan  f(jr  the  Recovery  of  New  York  ; 
Virginia  Ravaged  by  Phillips  and  Cornwallis ;  Encampments  at  Yorktown  and  Gloucester  Point ; 
Washington's  March  Southward ;  Attack  on  New  London  and  Groton ;  Campaign  in  South  Caro> 
liua;  Battle  near  Eutaw  Springs, 302 

OBAPTBR   XXIII. 

French  Fleet  In  the  Chesapeake;  Siege  of  Yorktown;  Surrender  of  Cornwallis;  Winter-quarters; 
Proceedings  m  the  English  Parllomont;  Negotiations  fcr  Peuce;  Terms  of  Treaty;  Cessation  of 
Hostilities;  Disaffection  in  the  Contiuental  Army;  Evacuation  of  New  York;  Position  of  tlie 
United  Slates, 309 

THE  UNITED  STATES. 

CHAPTER    1. 

Position  of  till)  Union  ot  the  Conclusion  of  Peace ;  Exinting  nifUcultles  with  Gronl  Britain  ;  Weaknesa 
of  Congress  ;  Local  Disturbances— Shny's  Rebellion  ;  Convention  for  Enlarging  Congressional  Pow- 
ers—Opposing  Interests  of  the  Stales;  the  Present  Con>tilulion— IVderul  Legislolure— Powers  of 
Congress— Uesitriclions-Liuiit  of  State  Powers— the  Executive — the  Judiciary— Mutual  GuaranteM 
—Amendments,  313 


CONTENTS. 


13 


S74 


978 


set 


285 


!»0 


394 


298 


301 


1 3ns 


1309 


119 


OBAPTIH   It.  f  AflX 

Balifleation  of  the  Contlitution  by  the  Stales ;  Waahingtuii  Electeil  President ;  the  First  0:airrwf — 
PruTiMOQ*  for  Revenue — Formation  of  a  Cabinet — Power  of  Removal  from  01Bc8 ;  Waatiuiufa'ju^* 
Tuur  tlirough  New  England ;  Second  Session  of  Congreaa— Debate  respectinar  the  P^it,ue  Lwus — 
Fixeien  Liabilities — Public  Certilicatus— Assumption  of  Slatek Debts— tho  Public  Debt  I'  im&«i— 
Miiceilukeous  EiuictmeuU ;  Constitution  Ratifled  by  Rhode  I jfaud, 318 

CHAPTER    m. 

Indian  Xegotiations — the  Creeks — the  North-western  Tribes ;  Ilarmar's  Unsnccessnil  Compaiim ;  Tlurd 
zfeieion  of  Congress— Itie  Excise  Law — a  National  Bunk;  Settlement  of  Kentuckj— lU  A.^iuiWiUU 
U>  tb«  Union ;  AdmiSbion  of  Vermont;  Site  of  the  Fedeial  Capitol ;  the  North-westera  [uiiiaiut — JftL 
C&ir'i  Expedition — his  Disastrous  Defeat ;  Political  Parties;  the  Census, ,.,.. .. .  39 

CHAPTER    IV. 

WfstiioictoD's  Second  Terrn— his  Disinclination  to  Ofl3ce ;  the  French  Revolution — it*  Pblltntai  lli«II»- 
eooe  in  the  United  Stales;  Arrival  of  Genet,  as  Minister  of  the  French  Republic— his  Pi-uciwrf.Ln^ 
at  CbarleMi(.>D ;  Neutral  Position  uf  the  United  States ;  Commercial  Restrictions  b;  Prani»  luit  Ciii^ 
laod;  IiDpi«aemeut  of  American  Seamen ;  Retirement  of  JelTerson ;  Algerioe  Depredatjuott, 3S 

CHAPTER  V. 

American  Politics;  Debate  in  Congress  upon  Foreign  Relations;  Further  Aggressiona  c(  &ii?:iini<l: 
Ci.4i:mi£Sivn  of  Jay  as  Ambassador  Extraordinary  to  Great  Britain;  Relief  of  Immiirranu  fr-.ait  iSil. 
VotaiDie'i ;  the  Neutrality  Laws;  Resistance  tu  the  Excise— Rebellion  in  Western  Pecb'tylviauit — 
U*  Forcible  Suppression— UpiaiuQS  uf  the  Republican  Party, Si 

CHAPTER  Vt. 

Geoefal  VVayne'i  Campaign  against  the  North-western  Indians;  Defeat  of  the  Conreiienu«  Tmlvn  «£ 
lite  Miami  Rapids;  Naturalization  Laws;  the  Democratic  Clubs;  Hamilton's  Besiijuuiii/a ;  iMt 
Bntith  Treaty-its  RatificAlion-Popular  Indignation ;  Randolph's  Resignation, 33S 

CHAPTER   TII. 

Indian  Treaty  at  Fort  Grecnv.vie ;  Treaties  with  Algiers  and  Spain — the  Mississippi  Opened  to  .tiiuw-     * 
can  Trade;  Debate  in  Congress  upon  Jay's  British  Treaty;  Tennessee  Admitted  into  :1m  f.'iui'.ai; 
French  ProCMrdings  in  Respect  to  the  Treaty;  American  Ministers  to  France;  VVanhin^tiHi'*  tSf.' 
tiremeot  from  Office — Slanders  upon  bis  Character;  John  Adams  Elected  President, Z2B 

CHAPTER   Vllt. 

Trealmeot  of  United  Slates'  Ambassadors  In  France;  Hostile  PreparatioM  in  America;  K>rw  Ew- 
bJttSj— Refusal  of  the  Directory  to  Receive  the  American  Ministers;  Negotiations  with  TaJlejr^iulI ; 
ExlntT&ga^l  Demands  and  Injurious  Decrees  of  the  Directory ;  Return  of  the  .Amba!i.iiul<jrs ;  .l<au« 
of  CobgreM — Military  Preparations— Alien  and  Sedition  Laws — X.and-tax,  etc^ MI 

CHAPTER    IX. 

PKife  MoTements  in  France;  Mission  of  Murray;  Naval  Engagements;  Death  of  VV'ashingtna;  %•■ 
piAe<ja  First  Cc'Usul;  Treaty  with  Franco;  First  Session  ot  CoiiKress  at  VVoshineton;  PreHiitrtnCiOi 
Election — Jtffer*ou  President,  and  Burr  Vice-president ;  Parly  Removal  from  OlBci';  Lei->ni  .touoi 
Beforata;  Ohio  Admitteit  into  the  Union;  Transfer  of  Louisiana  to  the  United  States, .^  Mi 

CHAPTBR    X. 

American  n*et  in  the  Mediterranean;  Expedition  »>f  Eiiton  and  Unmet  against  Tripoli;  TriMity  Oi*- 
cloded;  JeOenou's  Rtivli'ction;  Burr's  Duel  wilh  Ilaniiltun— his  Western  Enterprise— hia  Triak..,.  iO 

CHAPTER    St. 

Ea^iiab  At;gre»»'ioDs;  Failure  of  Negotiation;  Attack  on  the  Frigate  Chesapeake;  EmbHraii;  %im>' 
ir.tercoone  Act ;  Abolition  of  the  Slave-trade ;  John  Randolph;  West  Florida;  Oinitfwiom*  nf 
Njpoleon;  Britith  Cruifers— the  Lillle  Belt ;  Tecumseh— Elskwatawa— llutlle  of  Tippecanoe  ;  Imm 
fWida;  Declaration  of  War, ,..,..  XO 

CHAPTER    Sit. 

BMi  at  nallimore ;  Hull's  Invasion  of  Canada ;  Repeal  of  the  Orders  in  Council— Impre<wm.'nt ;  »►■ 
TaiO|<rrat«>Ds;  Madison's  Reelection;  North-western  Campaign- Defeat  of  Winchester ;  AiimM 
•■  York;  tte  BriUsb  on  Lake  Champlain, j/f 

CHAPTER    Silt. 

Baval  AOkif*— Perry'*  Victory  on  Lake  Erie ;  Harrison's  Canadian  Campaign  ;  the  Niagara  Fr  mcww  ; 
l**"*-^"**' War— J  jck»..li'«  Campaign;  Ncgolialionsf.ir  IViice;  llinwii's  Invasion  of  CHniuti—B<iOJ» 
sf  DnJgewal'r;  Occupulion  of  Ihe  Chesapeake— lliilllo  of  llladensburgh— Seizure  of  VVuHhrnn*^ 
— t>e«nictioa  of  Public  Buildings— Attack  on  Buliluuuii, joi 


•' '  1 


14 


C  O  X  T  !•;  X  T  s . 


OIATTRK    XIV,  PAaH 

Operntions  on  tlio  Const  of  M;iino;  Attack  on  Plnllsbuii,'!!— Bntllo  of  Lnke  Cliamplnin ;  Naval  At- 
faira — Lufllti' ;  NiKoliutioii  at  Ghent ;  the  lliiilfDid  Convention;  Treaty  of  Peace;  Jackson's  Do- 
fence  of  New  Orleans— Bulllo  of  January  8 ;  Naval  Engagotnenta, 378 

CHAPTER    SV. 

War  with  Ali;ieia;  Tariff— National  Bank;  Monroe,  Presidont;  Jackson's  Pominole  Campaitrn ; 
Cosuion  of  Florida  by  Spain  ;  Admission  of  Missouii— the  Compromise;  Monroe's  i;?econd  Term ; 
Administration  of  John  Quincy  Adams;  Election  of  Andrew  Jackson ;  the  Tariff;  Nullification 
in  South  Carolina ;  the  Uuitcd  States' Bank  ;  Indian  Removals;  Black  Hawk  ;   the  Chcrokees,..  361 

CIIAPTKB   2VI. 

The  Seminole  War;  Early  History  of  the  Florida  Indians;  War  of  ISIS;  Indian  Treaty  of  182n— 
of  lH3i;  Uefusal  of  the  Seminolcs  to  Remove;  Destruction  of  Dade's  Detachment;  Military 
Operations  of  Generals  Scott  and  Jessup  ;  Unsatisfactory  Results  of  Negotiation  ;  Expeditions  of- 
Cuhinels  Taylor  and  Harney  ;  Gradual  Cessation  of  Hostilities;  Recent  Difficulties, 380 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Administration  of  Van  Burcn- Financial  Pressure — the  Sub-treasury — Canadian  Revolt— the  North- 
eastern Boundary— the  Affair  of  the  Amistad;  Harrison  and  Tyler — Bankrupt  Law — Preemption— 
the  Veto  Powor— Tariff ;  Admission  uf  Texas, 395 

CHAPTER    SVIII. 

Texas  as  a  Spanish  Province — Grant  to  Moses  Austin— Colonization— Difficulties  of  the  Settlers; 
Revolution  in  Mexico — Bnstamente — First  Revolutlonaiy  Movements  in  Texas— Santa  Anna'-  Pres- 
idency—his Usurpation ;  Second  Texan  Cunipaipn — Success  of  the  Patriots— Invasion  by  Santa 
Anna — Battle  of  San  Jacinto — independence  Established, 40O 

CHAPTER    XIS.. 

Administration  of  James  K.Polk;  Annexation  of  Texas;  the  North-western  Boundary ;  Discovery 
nnd  History  of  the  Territory  of  Oregon;  Voyage  of  Juan  do  Fuca— Discovery  of  the  Columbia- 
Trading  Establishments— Journey  of  Lewis  and  Clarke — Astoria— Destruction  of  the  Tonquin; 
Wur  with  Great  Britain— Boundary  Treaties -Settlement  of  the  Country, 408 

CHAPTER   XS. 

Alteration  in  the  Tariff;  Acquisition  of  Californio— Early  History  of  that  Province— the  Jesuit  Mis- 
sions in  the  Peninsula — the  Dominicans;  Upper  California— the  Franciscan  Missionary  Establish- 
ment—the Mexican  Revolution — Attempts  at  Colonization, 413 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

Exploration  of  New  California— Colonel  Fremont's  Survey  of  the  South  Pass— Overland  Expedition 
of  1843-4— the  (ireat  Suit  Lake— Return  Route— Terrible  Passage  of  the  Sierra  Nevada— Captain 
Sutter's  Settlement- Subsequent  Expeditions  of  Fremont ;  the  Gold  Discoveries  in  California,. . ..  418 

CHAPTER    XSII. 

The  Mormons;  Administrations  of  Zachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore— Admission  of  California 
into  the  Union— Debate  upon  the  Slavery  Question — the  Coniproniiso — Expeditions  of  Narciseo 
Lopez ;  Statistics ;  Franklin  Pierce  Prueident— Japan— the  Nebraska  Questiun, 425 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
Adniiiiislrntion  of  James  Bnchannn- Repuhliciin  Party — Know  Nothings— Growth  of  Slavery  qiieatinn — 
Dred  Si'ntl  (leclsimi — Kansas  trouMps — t.'tnli  War — William  Walker's  invasioiis  of  Califciriiin  niid  Nicars- 
gim — Walker  sliol  — Fiimncial  I'nnio  of  IK'iT — Cidiforiiia  Overland  Mail — Rpvivnl  of  Ir^'tr' — Treaty  with 
I'liriijrimy— ('iiliii — Smm  Juan--Princo  of  Wales  in  Atiienca — ,Ia|iiiiiPso  embassy — J.ihn  Bruun — .Vutninating 
('iinvpiithin'.,  It'lill— Kkction  of  Linciiln  and  Hamlin — Secession;  Confederate  Stales  of  .America — Cruwth 
of  Uie  I'liion '. 433 

Ni:\V    BKUXSWICK. 

CHAPTER     I. 
Area — I"ii:.'lisli  Pettlemont— French   Dismvory — (Jrnnt  to  Aloxamler— De  La  Tour  and  rhnrnlsse— Bny  Thal- 
lours  sellli'd— Kiinnil  at  liny  Clialeiirs— l'ir:iles— S|ireiid  of  French  ^ettleiiipnls- Davidson  nt  .MiriiriK.-lii— .■*!. 
John  «ellled— /Mtaek  on  Miramachi— Micmacs— .\ttack  the  Vipir— I'nncity  of  Martin — Guv.  f.'utli'tun.  4I'J 

niArTKU     II 
Pro^rc's  after  llie    .American  ^Viir— (".ilcmial  System  of   I*(ir>-7 — Piitios  on  timher — (irent  Firo  of  l-i>— I.osi 


CONTENTS. 


15 


380 


395 


400 


408 


413 


..  425 

hnestuin — 
Ll  Niunra- 
eiity  wkth 
■jtriiimtin; 

..  433 


|?!iy  rhal- 

,lii-r<i. 

|.-t.,n.  4I'J 


* 
:''^l 


J 


at  Newcastle  and  Douglostown— Disputed    American  Boondwr— B*fereoce  to  the  King  of  Netherlands— 
Finul  settlement— Prince  of  Wales' visit  in  18tiO — Received  al  St.  John— Journey  to  F'redericton— Return.  454 

cni?r2a  :ri. 
Surface— Coast  of  Bay  of  Fundy— Mountains— St.  John  River— Graod  Fall*— Lower  Valley— Winter  Floods 
— St.  Croix  River---Pcticodiac — .Miramachi — Resti^ouche — L«iiei — Grsuid   Lakc-s — Cliepuliiecticook   Lakes 
— Internal    Navigation— Southern    Harbors— Northeaitcra    Coast — blar^i — Bay  of    Fundy —High  tides- 
Geology — Coal  atrata 4J9 

CHiJrZB     IT 
Forest   Trees — Lumbering    business — Camping    out — Forking — River-Driving — Climate — .Seventy    lessening 
— Rapid  Growth  of  Vegetation — .Agricultural  value  of  Larul — Crwpi — Fruit — Berries- -Bituminous  Coal- 
Iron  Ore— Plumbago— Grindstones— Other  Minerals — Commerce  and  Siiipping  ilauufactures 4G5 

CHi?r23   V. 
Fisheries — First  use  by  Europeans — English  Acquisition — .Aniericaa  Itlerferenoe — Fithing  in  Buy  of  Fundy — 
Mode    of  Fishing— Codfish — Herring- Fishery  in  Golf  of  Sc  Lanrmve — Salmon — Fresh  Water    Fi>h — 
Animals— Roads — Frederictoa described — St. John — Sett'ement-PotriK buildings — Trade — OtherTouns.  471 

cHiPTsa   t:. 
Religious    Denominations— Schools    and      Colleges — Popolatioii — .\caiiiaii     French — Micmacs — Melicetes— 
Negroes— Character  of  People— Ilospitolity — Social  Pleasures — Popalatioa — Covemmer.t— Courts  ;  their  Con- 
stitution and  Session — List  of  Governors  and  their  accesioo — Saauouj  of  Condition  of  Province — Finol 
Statistics 47S 

NOVA   SCOTIA- 

CHArrs?.  I. 
Nova  Scotia  discovered — First  occupied  by  the  French — Colony  of  De  !..•  B'Jcbf'— Convicts  on  Sohle  Island — 
De  Monts,  Governor  of  Acadia— Confiscates  Rossignol's  goods — Pomrincocrt  seules  Port  Royal — Mamberton, 
the  Indian  Sachem- Poutrincourt  and  the  Jesuits — .Argall    -nvades  Acs/3:a— Sir  Wiliiam  -Alexander's  set- 
tlers—Kirk's  conquest  of  Canada — Razillai — Chamisse — De  La  Toar 4S3 

CHAPTsa  i:. 
Growth  of  Nova  Scotia  under  the  French— King  William's  War— Sir  AVilUara  Phips  taies  Port  Royal— Villa- 
bon  at  Geinsec- Nova  Scotia .  separated  from  Massachusetcs — Peace  of  Byswirk — Uueen  Anne's  War- 
French  Negotiations  with  Pirates — Church's  invasion  of  Nova  Sroiia — Repulse  of  third  Mu'sachusctls  in- 
vasion— A  fourth  one  takes  Port  Royal — Peace  of  t'trecht— Rel«»ct«i>«e  of  English  to  settle — Destruction  of 
Norridgwock 433 

CHAPT2S  i::. 
Wor  of  1744 — Du  Vivier's  Expedition— Duke  D'.Anville's  Fleet— Wrecks,  and  its  failure — .Anson  and  Warren's 
victory  over  De  La  Jonquiere — Slo.v  increase  of  English  eolootsts — SeOlemeot  of  Halifax — French  tamper 
with  Indians— War  of  1755 — Cul.  Winslow's  expedition  from  Mais«tL'M?tts — Perjileiities  as  to  the  Aca- 
dians — Resolved  to  remove  them— Dispersed  among  the  eolooie»— Firrt  House  of  .Assembly — "Charter  of 
Nova  Scotia." 492 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Taking  of  Quebec — Treaty  with  Monguash  Tribe— Cape  Breton  a  separate  Goremment  for  a  time — .American 
colonies  try  to  detach  Nova  Scotia  from  England— Loyalirt  refugees — .Aineri'-ao  privateer? — Land  kpecula- 
tions  in  17i^l — Maroons  from  Jnmoica— Gov.  Wentworth — Gov.  Sherbrooke — War  of  Ip12— I^ord  Dalhousie 
— Sir  James  Kempt— Earl  of  Mulgrave — Visit  of  Prioce  of  Wales — Rejoicings  tt  Halifax— Enthusiasm 
— Journey  to  Windsor 498 

CFIAFTZP.    T. 

Halifiix— Public  Buildings — Royal  Dockyard— Excellence  of  Ilarbor— BiBtnets  advantages — Society  and 
Atnusements — Commerce  and  Shipping — Pictou  ;  its  commerce— Vietoo  Col'jege — Liverjiool — Fisheries — 
Hhelburne — Singular  History — Annapolis — Wimlsor— Dijhy  ;  '•  Dig^y  CTiickeQ«"—Lunehburg— Sable 
Island „ 502 

CHAPT2S    TI 
Geography  of  Nova  Scotia— Socncry-Lakes-Mountains- GcoIofT—Pnmitive  rocki — Secondary  rocks— Na- 
tive   Animals— Healthiriess  of    Climate— Character    of   S«)n/>nt— ?.>il :    iu    distributiou— Fruits— .\grinil- 
tural  capacity— Crops— fetnlistics — Board   of    .Agriculture — Mannfisctores— Conmerre — Mining— Fisheries — 
Railroads 500 


t 
•  f 


16 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  vn. 

Nationality  of  the  People — English— Americans — French — Indioiis— Characteristic  traits— Exeellenee  not  ap- 
preciateil- Intelligence  and  talent— Judge  Ilaliburton  and  Sir  \V.  F.  Williams— Constitution  of  government 
— Governor — List  of  Governors — Legislature — Rcligou*  Denominations— Education  and  SchooU — General 

prosperity — Population 512 

NEWFOUNDLAND. 

Area — Discovery— First  Settlement—  Cal  "rt's  settlement— Settlers  driven  off— First  Local  Government— Recent 
prosperity — St.  John — Its  Harbor— Uuildings,  etc — Visit  of  Prince  of  Wales — Interior — Character  of  people 
— Red  Indians— Animals — Plants— Minerals — Fisheries— Sealing— Statistics  of  trade — Grand  Bank — Mique- 
lets— Mogdalen  Islands 516 

THE  SANDWICH  ISLANDS. 

Historical  Sketch  of. 547 


547 


THE  ENaLISH  IN  AMERICA. 


(gavlji  00^35  es  aiiiJ  liticmjjts  ai  Coloui^aiiott. 


SEBASTIAN    CABOT;    HIS   YOUTH:    HIS   FIRST  VOYAGE,   AND   DISCOV- 
ERY  OF   NORTH  AMERICA. — HIS  SECOND  YOYAGE,  AND   FUTILE 
ATTEMPT   AT  COLONIZATION. — OBSCURE   INTERVAL   IN   HIS 

LIFE. HE  SERVES  IN  SPAIN. — HIS  EXPEDITION  UNDER 

HENRY  VIII.  —  APPOINTED  GRAND  PILOT  OF  SPAIN. — 

HIS  EXPEDITION  TO  SOUTH  AMERICA. — HIS  RETURN 

TO  ENGLAND,  SERVICES,  OLD  AGE,  AND  DEATH. 

England,  the  first  to  discover  the  American  continent,  waa, 
strangely  enough,  the  hast  to  plant  her  colonies  on  its  shores.  Be- 
tween a  solitary  brilliant  effort  of  early  enterprise  and  those  late  and 
feeble  endeavours  destined  to  eventuate  in  such  mighty  results,  there 
was  destined  to  intervene  the  barren  inlerrcgnum  of  nearh*  a  century 
of  torpidity  and  ignorance,  of  imprudence  and  disaster.  The  scanty 
resources  of  her  marine,  and  the  lives  of  her  most  enterprising  dis- 
coverers, for  ages,  were  lavished  in  futile  efforts  to  reach  the  shores 
of  India  by  passing  to  the  north  of  Asia,  or  in  yet  more  hopeless 
attempts  at  the  North-west  Passage.  After  briefly  describing  the 
particulars  of  her  first  memorable  achievement,  and  the  unimportant 
movements  in  the  same  direction  by  which  it  was  succeeded,  we  may 
pass,  with  little  interruption,  to  the  tardy  and  unprosperous  beginning 


'' 


18 


AMEKICA  ILLDSTKATED. 


of  an  empire,  v/'liose  rise  and  progress  arc  utterly  witliout  a  parallel 
in  the  history  of  the  world. 

That  achievement,  indeed,  as  in  the  more  remarkable  instance  of 
Columbus,  and  in  that  of  jragcllan,  of  Vespucius,  of  Verrazano,  and 
of  Hudson,  was  mainly  due  to  the  genius  and  enterjn-ise  of  one  who, 
if  not  of  foreign  birtli,  was  of  foreign  origin  and  education,  seeking, 
in  a  strange  land,  the  means  of  displaj-ing  his  genius  and  courage 
in  effecting  grand  discoveries.  Sebastian  Cabot,  the  son  of  an  emi- 
nent Venetian  merchant,  was  born  at  Bristol  in  England,  about  the 
year  1-177.  Being  removed  to  Venice  at  the  early  age  of  four,  he 
there  received,  for  the  age,  an  excellent  education,  and  became  espe- 
cially imbued  with  the  taste  for  maritime  enterprise.  Eeturning  to 
England  yet  a  youth,  his  ambition,  like  that  of  others  of  his  fomily, 
was  strongly  kindled  by  tidings  of  the  grand  discovery  of  Columbus, 
then  the  chief  event  of  the  day.  "By  this  fame  and  report,"  he 
says,  "there  increased  in  my  heart  a  great  flame  of  desire  to  attempt 
some  notable  thing." 

An  ambition  so  laudable  has  seldom  been  gratified  at  such  an  early 
age;  and  a  more  "notable  thing"  than  the  young  adventurer  proba- 
bly drc.'imed  of,  was  destined,  while  he  was  j'ct  a  boy,  to  immortalize 
his  name.  Henry  VII.,  whose  far-sighted  policy  had  looked  with 
inunediate  favour  on  the  scheme  of  Columbus,  and  who  had  narrowly 
missed  the  first  claim  to  America,  in  March,  liOO,  at  the  instance  of 
John  Cabot,  granted  to  him  and  his  three  sons — Lewis,  Sebastian,  and 


")  o' 


Sancius — a  patent  "to  sail  to  all  parts,  cuuntrys,  and  seas,  of  the 
East,  of  the  West,  and  of  the  North,  to  seek  and  find  out  whatsoever 
isles,  countries,  regions,  or  provinces  of  the  heathen  and  infidels, 
whatsoever  they  may  be,  and  in  what  part  of  the  world  soever  they 
be,  whi<ih  before  this  time  have  been  unknown  to  all  Christians." 
The  main  object  of  this  expedition  was  the  enterprising  attempt,  so 
often  since  repeated,  first  from  ignorance  of  climate  and  geogiaphy, 
and  latterly  from  sheer  English  hardihood  and  perseverance,  to  find 
a  North-west  passage  to  the  shores  of  India. 

Sebastian,  though  as  3'et  ouh'  a  youth  of  nineteen,  was  entrusted 
with  the  command  of  the  expedition,  which  consisted  of  five  ships, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1-197,  accompanied  by  his  father,  took  his 
departure  from  the  port  of  Bristol.  After  stopping  at  Iceland,  they 
held  on  to  the  westward,  and  on  the  21th  of  June,  beheld  the  land 
stretching  before  them,  being  portions  of  the  coasts  of  Labrador  and 
Newfoundland.     Little  exultation  seems  to  have  been  awakened  by 


a 
..'■ii 

.^15 


THE    ENGLISH   IN    AMERICA. 


19 


this  momentous  discovery  of  a  continent.  "After  certayne  dayes," 
Bays  Sebastian,  "I  fouiud  that  the  land  ranne  toward  the  North, 
which  was  to  mee  a  great  displeasure,  *  *  not  thinking 
to  fiiul  any  other  land  than  Cathay  "  '^'^hina).  lie  entered,  however, 
it  would  seem,  one  of  the  channels  wbicii  lead  into  llud.s(jn's  Bay, 
and  tliought  himself  (like  Hudson,  a  century  later)  fairly  in  the 
desired  track ;  but  after  keeping  westward  for  several  days,  the  crews, 
discouraged  by  the  length  of  the  voyage  and  the  ftiilurc  of  })rovi- 
sion,  insisted  on  return.  Compelled  to  yield,  he  put  about,  and  after 
coasting  along  shore  for  some  way  to  the  southward,  made  his  way 
to  England.     Not  long  afterwards,  John  Cabot  expired. 

In  the  spring  of  1498,  Sebastian,  anxious  to  found  a  colony,  took 
with  him  three  hundred  men,  and  again  set  sail  for  the  region  he  had 
discovered.  These  unfortunate  people  he  landed  on  the  bleak  and 
inhospitable  coast  of  Labrador,  that  they  might  form  a  settlement 
there,  and  then  with  the  squadron  renewed  his  search  for  the  North- 
west Passage.  The  particulars  of  this  unsuccessful  attempt  are  not 
recorded;  but  on  his  return  to  the  station,  he  found  that  the  settlers 
had  suffered  miserably  from  cold  and  exposure,  though,  in  that  high 
northern  latitude,  "the  dayes  were  very  longe,  and  in  a  manner 
without  nyght."  A  number  had  already  perished,  and  the  rest, 
refusing  to  remain  any  longer  in  these  inclement  regions,  were  taken 
on  board,  and  carried  back  to  England.  In  the  return  voyage,  he 
coasted  along  the  Atlantic  sea-board  of  North  America  as  for  as 
Florida. 

From  this  time  until  the  year  1512,  very  little  is  known  of  the 
career  of  Cabot;  though,  it  is  said,  deprived  of  the  aid  oi  the  crown, 
he  fitted  out  vessels  at  his  own  charges,  and  made  "great  discoveries," 
in  a  more  southerly  direction.  In  that  year  we  find  him  employed 
by  Ferdinand  of  Spain,  and,  not  long  after,  a  member  of  the  Council 
of  the  Indies.  He  was  also  entrusted  with  the  command  of  a  fresh 
expedition  to  seek  the  Westerly  Passage;  but  this  project  failing, 
from  the  death  of  his  patron,  in  151 G,  he  returned  to  England,  where 
he  was  received  with  favour  by  Henry  YIII.  From  that  country 
he  made  a  fresh  expedition  to  the  north-west,  attaining  the  sixty- 
seventh  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  makihg  fresh  survej's  in  Hud- 
son's Bay;  but  from  the  severity  of  the  season,  the  mutinous  dispo- 
sition of  his  crews,  and  the  timidity  of  Sir  Thomas  Pert,  who  com- 
manded under  him,  ("whose  faint  heart  was  the  cause  that  the  voyage 
took  none  effect,")  was  compelled  to  return  to  England,  his  purpose 


20 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


I 


anaccomplished.  In  1518,  he  was  recalled  to  Spain  by  Charles  V.^ 
then  on  the  throne  of  that  country,  and  received  the  honourable  and 
responsible  appointment  of  Chief  Pilot. 

In  April  of  1526,  he  set  forth,  with  three  ships,  on  a  voyage  to 
the  Pacific  hy  the  strait  of  Magellan;  but,  through  mutiny  and  .ship- 
wreck, his  project  was  discc  certed,  and  he  devoted  himself  to  inland 
exploration.  lie  passed  up  the  La  Plata  and  the  Paraguay,  and, 
during  an  absence  of  five  years,  added  materially  to  a  knowledge  of 
the  geography  of  those  regions,  a?  well  as  of  their  natuml  wealth 
and  resources.  In  1531,  he  returned  to  Spain,  and  resumed  his 
ofSce  of  Chief  Piloi;,  being  then  fifty-three  years  of  age.  Despite  his 
many  misfortunes,  his  reputation  as  a  discoverer  and  navigator  was 
great  "He  is  so  valiant  a  man,"  saj's  a  contemporary,  "and  so  well 
practiced  in  all  things  pertaining  to  navigations  and  the  science  of 
cosmographie,  that  at  this  present  he  hath  not  his  like  in  all  Spaine, 
insomuch  that  for  his  vertues  he  is  preferred  above  all  other  Pilota 
that  saile  to  the  West  Indies,  who  may  not  passe  thither  without  hia 
license,  and  is  therefore  called  Pilote  Maggioro,  (thatb,  Grand  Pilot.)" 
"I  found  him,"  says  another,  "a  very  gentL  and  courteous  person, 
who  entertained  mee  friendly,  and  showed  mee  many  things,  ar.d 
among  other  a  large  mappe  of  the  world  " — at  that  time,  doubtless, 
a  great  curiosity,  and  which  certainly  would  be  none  the  less  such 
now.  The  learned  and  enterprising  seem  to  have  found  delight  in 
his  society,  and  as,  with  increasing  age,  he  gradually  relinquished 
his  more  active  occupations,  a  serene  tranquillity,  relieved  from  mo- 
liotony  by  the  interest  of  his  office,  rewarded  the  more  arduous 
achievements  of  his  youth  and  manhood.  "After  this,"  he  writes, 
"I  made  many  other  voyages,  which  I  now  pretermit,  and  waxmg 
olde,  I  give  myself  to  rest  from  such  travels,  becau.se  there  are  now 
many  young  and  lustie  pilots  and  mariners  of  good  experience,  by 
whose  forwardness  I  do  rtjoyee  in  the  fruit  of  my  lalxtrs  and  rest  in 
the  charge  of  this  office  as  you  see." 

Aged  as  the  discoverer  wa.s  when  he  wrote  this  letter,  his  work 
was  fur  from  finiiBhod;  the  promotion, of  English  enterprise  and  tho 
Duilding  up  of  a  marine  mightier  than  the  world  has  ever  seen,  being 
reserved  as  the  crowning  laurel  of  his  long  and  useful  life.  In  luld, 
being  then  seventy  years  old,  he  revisited  his  native  country,  where 
be  met  with  much  favour  from  tho  young  king,  Edward  VI.  It  has 
been  said  that  he  was  apjH)intcd  to  the  office  of  Grand  Pilot  of  Eng- 
'»nd — an  office  which,  in  the  unprospcrous  condition  of  foreign 


iL 


THE  ENGLISH   IN   AMERICA. 


21 


commerce,  must,  at  tbis  time,  have  been  almost  a  sinecure.  lie  cer- 
tainly received  a  handsome  pension.  His  reputation  for  maritime 
pkill,  (as  well  perhaps  as  the  jealousy  of  the  Spanish  court,)  is 
evinced  in  a  formal  demand  made  by  Charles  V.,  that  *'  Sebastian 
Cabote,  Grand  Pilot  of  the  Emperor's  Indies,  then  in  England,  might 
be  sent  over  to  Spain,  as  a  very  necessary  man  for  the  Emperor, 
Avhose  servant  he  was  and  had  a  pension  of  him."  This  peremptory 
recall  was,  however,  disregarded. 

His  arrival  in  London  gave  a  fresh  stimulus  to  the  almost  decayed 
spirit  of  English  enterprise.  The  chief  men  of  that  port,  we  are 
told,  began  "first  of  all  to  deal  and  consult  diligently"  with  the  aged 
pilot ;  and  by  his  advice  three  vessels  were  fitted  out  for  an  expedi- 
tion to  the  north-east.  This  little  squadron,  which  sailed  in  May, 
1553,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Hugh  Willoughby,  was  regarded 
with  a  curiosity  which  indicates  the  infancy  of  maritime  enterprise 
in  the  nation  whose  exploits  in  that  direction  have  since  been  utterly 
unapproachable  by  those  of  any  other.  As  it  floated  down  tlie 
Thames,  says  old  Ilakluyt,  "being  come  neerc  to  Greenwich  (whore 
the  court  then  lay)  presently  on  the  news  thereof,  the  courtiers  came 
running  out,  and  the  common  people  flockt  together,  standing  very 
thick  upon  the  shoare ;  the  privie  counsell,  they  lookt  out  at  the  win- 
dows of  the  court,  and  the  rest  ranne  up  to  the  toppcs  of  the  towers." 
This  expedition  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  Sir  Hugh  and  most 
of  his  people,  who  perished  on  the  dreary  coast  of  Lapland;  but  one 
of  the  vessels,  commanded  by  Eichard  Chancellor,  succeeded  in 
pushing  her  way  fixr  eastward  through  the  Arctic  seas,  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  a  prosperous  commerce  between  England  and  Russia. 

We  find  Cabot,  in  extreme  old  age,  still  the  active  patron  of 
English  enterprise  and  commerce;  which,  by  his  vigorous  and  intel- 
ligent direction,  was  gradually  placed  on  a  siibstantial  and  lucrative 
basis.  A  ])lea.sant  description  of  his  demeanoiir  is  given  by  one  of 
the  company  of  a  small  vessel,  which,  with  his  friends  (when  eighty 
years  old)  he  visited  at  Gravesend.  "They  went  on  shore,"  says  liio 
narrator,  "giving  to  our  mariners  right  liberal  rewards;  and  the  good 
olde  gentleman,  master  Cabota,  gave  to  tlu;  poor  most  liberall  alrnes, 
wishing  them  to  pray  for  the  good  fortune  and  prosperous  success 
of  the  /Search- T/ir (ft,  our  pincsse.  And  then  at  the  signe  of  the 
Christopher,  lice  and  his  friends  banketed,  and  made  mee,  and  them 
that  were  in  the  company  great  cheerc;  and  so  very  joy  that  he  had 
to  see  the  towardness  of  our  intended  discovery,  he  entered  into  tho 


■MpmiM  ,v^"»^-- 


n^fF7wr»"V'T?r- 


22 


ameeica  illustrated. 


dance  himselfe,  among  the  rest  of  the  young  and  lusty  company; 
which  being  ended,  hee  and  his  friends  departed,  most  gently  com- 
mending us  to  the  governance  of  Almighty  God."  The  most  elaborate 
description  could  hardly  present  a  more  agreeable  picture  of  hale, 
cheerful,  and  benevolent  old  age,  than  is  suggested  by  this  little 
incident,  thus  casually  recorded. 

After  the  accession  of  Mary,  this  aged  and  useful  servant  of  the 
crown  spent  the  brief  remainder  of  his  days  in  neglect  and  obscurity. 
It  mattered  little  to  him,  however,  for  his  work  was  done.  "On  his 
death-bed,  says  an  eye-witness,  '  he  spake  flightily '  of  a  certain  divine 
revelation  (which  he  might  disclose  to  no  man)  for  the  infallible 
ascertainment  of  the  longitude.  "With  his  last  thoughts  thus  amused 
by  visions  so  suited  to  his  mind  and  his  past  life,  the  Discoverer  of 
North  Ai.iCrica  died  calmly — it  is  supposed  in  the  city  of  London; 
but  the  date  of  his  death,  and  the  place  where  his  remains  are  laid, 
have  lou";  been  lost  even  to  tradition." 


i      'i 


I 


I 


uXXtniOi     XJjiTl     JljLi 


THE    "DOIIINDS    VOBISCUM:"     FAILURE    AND    MISFORTUN  E.- 
l  M  P  110  V  EM  EN  T    or    THE    ENGLISH    MARINE.  —  MARTIN   FRO- 
BISIiEU:  JllS  VOYAGE  IN  SEARCH  OP  A  NORTH-WEST  PASSAGE. 
DIMINUTIVE    EQUIPMENTS   OP   THE    EARLY    DISCOV- 
ERERS.—  SUPPOSED     DISCOVERY     OP     GOLD     ORE. 

SECOND    EXPEDITION    OP    PRO  BIS  HER. — SURYEYS. 

—  CONTEST   WrrU  THE  ESQUIMAUX.  —  HIS  THIRD 

E  X  1 '  E  11 1  T 1 0  N .  —  I T  3    F  A I  L  D  R  E . 


TiiK  voya'ic  of  Cabot,  under  Henry  VIIL,  in  1517,  in  search  of  a 
Nortli-west  Passage,  i.s  the  only  one  made  by  the  English,  in  tliat 
direction,  lor  ten  years,  of  which  any  record  has  survived.  In  1527, 
two  shi|>.s,  the  ^'JJoiniiius  Vuhi.sn/ni'^  ("the  Lord  be  with  you'")  and 
another  were  di.spatehcd  by  tlio  panic  sovereign  to  the  northern 
eofists  of  America.  "Divers  cunning  men,"  one  being  a  canon  oi 
St.  Paid'.'',  went  on  this  expedition,  which,  however,  one  of  the 
vc.«scls  being  wrecked,  res'ilted  in  nothing  of  importance.  The  fact, 
indeed,  that  a  letter,  describing  tlie  voyage,  was  forwarded  homo 


k 


m 


'>'-^^- 


M^%^ 


f  I 


i 


t: 


i 


,.  i> 


tr 


L 


22 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


'f»«(S^ 


'I    ''V     t]:H    iltlle 


..-l^- 


•'•■'     ■  -      -inf.  of  the 

•.»oii  (\vL;ch   i-^"  .:o  rua;;}  (or  ths  inlallibio 

•  iJH',?.' t '  '  '  '•'..;   ;  •'-  'a#t  UK><Jii;)ts  ilins,anm.so<l 

.  -  "iS  s^';^  .j.<.  •  <    .  •■;  ^  '    ^-vi?    -'r  '■•<v  I'Jiscoverer  of 

:'.:Kr>         -.  ;;>  v  ■    ~.       t«-i  !.i  ^.^•  o:ty  of  Lo.  lion; 

•  .■j)rfi*/?<>  .*  ,t  <^  .  .--  r>:m;uas-ar<^  JajJ, 


I  >.  M    ..  .:  ^    r  NO l.i 3 K   «  i;.t  >•.-  u  I  );TlMfJl0- 

-     •     .■  :N  UTIV-B  tUW.lfUa5itIS.:<»  fli*    i.Aii  1.1    iJiaCpV' 

..  i   '         -  -- ;  :  i    I  ,l;  li     HIFCOTBRr    OP    G  0  M)    Oftl^— 

I 

>      -■'  -      !  ,   .  ,    «t  «'».  i.r--"  .  <tr  w'  *t«  i'V  1)0   !  .•«.•'■    I      \'.  tbjtt 

d,    .  ^.       t '■     (^      ■!;  :.  'f  ■■■^.'i,     it*T   t->vrj  bay.  '  ■•r\  .M  .1      !    To"?, 

tv>.  :•.;■•         t-    •  '  •       •  I'l      s"-/  -!<<*»*      ■*!',<•    f-oril  '><>  will)    ■     '1  ■'I  liirl 
tliH'tJto?'    V,'";"    t        ..I'.chril    *•     »  -'.■    s«u'\.<»  r'VfruiL'V    i'     '^  -  .tM't> 

>•    ..-tt  nf  .\;i'.i  ».      "I»ivii*       ..»'.•"   ■ -.>f',"  ii'.f  beiiip  .    ■..'     .    »? 
^  ■-     "■<  ;j'«j  w  jt      i   t'        \i=  '■■•-■■.    ^-    '..'h,  li'uv^n'r,  .'  the     \ 


[ 


'I: J  ■■  in-' 

:ia:i  lliildi 
Hi  of  the 

s,aniuso<l 
ijverer  o^ 


I.o  .1 


on: 


I  an-  lai'l, 


' 


!\1\    ] 

tM  It 

lOl, 


nc 


THE  ENGLISH  IN   AMERICA, 


23 


from  the  harbour  of  St.  John's,  Newfoundland,  would  seem  zo  mm.- 
cate  that  some  intercourse  already  existed  with  those  parts — ptvj'liaWy 
by  fishing  vessels,  which,  in  emulation  of  the  early  Bretooa,  naaj 
have  resorted  thither. 

Nine  years  afterwards,  (1536,)  another  voyage  was  made  in  flue 
same  direction  by  a  company  of  adventurers,  many  of  wham,  were 
young  lawyers  from  the  Inns  of  Court,  and  gentlemea  of  g«Kj>d 
family.  They  were  reduced  -to  a  wretched  condition,  and  er^iZi,  :i 
is  said,  resorted  to  cannibalism,  devouring  one  another;  at  l'^ 
obtaining  by  stratagem,  at  Newfoundland,  a  French  ship,  welil  ifiiir- 
nished  '.i-ith  supplies,  they  made  their  way  home,  whither  thej  wei* 
soon  followed  (in  the  ship  they  had  left)  by  the  French  crew,  claia- 
orous  for  redress.  It  would  appear,  from  laws  passed  not  lons^  afkir 
for  the  protection  of  the  fisheries  at  Newfoundland,  that  this  hmnek 
of  national  industry  had  already  made  a  fair  beginning;  aind  ojbIj 
a  few  years  later,  from  thirty  to  fifty  English  vessels,  it  is  aaifl,  caunc 
annually  to  that  region. 

The  fate  of  Willoughby,  in  seeking  a  north-east  passage,  in  l'>>3, 
and  the  success  of  his  oflicer.  Chancellor,  in  discovering  a  aea-roial« 
to  Russia,  and  opening  a  lucrative  commerce  with  that  empire-j  5jave 
already  been  mentioned.  The  English  marine,  under  the  aiisj>ii«es 
of  Cabot,  rapidly  increased  in  extent,  and  the  English  maria«?s  in 
skill  and  boldness;  and  the  brilliant  reign  of  Elizabeth,  so  fertile  in 
every  department  of  greatness,  was  illustrated  by  numeroTW  naiTal 
exploits,  both  in  war  and  attempted  discovery.  The  attentwrn  rf 
the  learned  and  enterprising  was  revived  to  the  scheme  of  effecting 
a  North-west  Passage — an  undertaking,  in  the  language  of  Martin 
Frobisher,  "the  only  thing  of  the  world,  yet  left  undone,  wheT^hj  a 
notable  mind  might  become  fortunate  and  famous." 

For  fifteen  years,  that  navigator,  afterwards  so  famous  in  almxost 
every  sea,  vainly  sought  the  means  of  pursuing  his  grand  flfcsri^n; 
and  it  was  not  until  157G,  that  by  the  favour  of  the  Earl  o''  War- 
wick,  he  was  enabled  to  fit  out  a  little  flotilla  of  three  v  ihe 

largest  of  which  was  only  thirty-five  tons,  and  the  smallest  bat  tos- 
With  this  slender  equipment,  on  the  19th  of  June,  1576,  he  flailed 
from  Yarmouth  on  his  long-cherished  enterprise.  "In  reviewfnjr  t!»e 
history  of  these  early  expeditions,  the  most  casual  reader  mnM  l*c 
struck  with  the  humble  and  insignificant  means  with  which  the  2T3k4- 
ert  enterprises  were  attempted  and  often  accomplished.  CV>Inmil»nw, 
amid  the  storms  of  a  most  tempestuous  winter,  made  his  way  back  to 


U 


24 


AMERICA   ILLUSTKATED. 


I: 


Europe,  after  his  great  discovery,  in  an  open  caravel ;  Hudson,  with 
only  ten  men,  undertook  'to  find  a  passage  to  India  by  way  of  the 
north  pole;'  and  the  good  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  after  voyaging 
safely  to  Newfoundland  in  his  little  Squirrel,  (of  only  ten  tons,)  was 
finally  whelmed  in  a  tremendous  gale  beneath  the  'pyramid-like' 
seas  of  the  Atlantic." 

On  the  11th  of  July,  this  little  squadron  came  to  the  southern 
extremity  of  Greenland,  and,  keeping  to  the  westward,  on  the  18th 
of  August  again  made  land  on  some  part,  it  is  probable,  of  the  coast 
of  Labrador.  Here  the  voyagers  fell  in  with  parties  of  Esquimaux, 
who  came  off  to  the  vessels  in  their  seal-skin  boats;  and  five  of  the 
crew,  who  too  rashly  went  ashore  with  them,  were  carried  off,  and 
could  not  be  recovered.  This  land  was  named  by  Frobisher  "  Meta 
Incognita."  One  of  his  little  vessels  was  swallowed  up  by  the  sea, 
and  another  deserted  him ;  yet  he  pressed  on,  and  made  considerable 
surveys  in  those  dreary  regions.  On  his  return  to  England,  certain 
bits  of  glittering  stone  which  he  had  found  there  were  confidently 
pronounced  by  the  English  goldsmiths  to  be  no  other  than  gold  ore. 
The  announcement  of  this  fancied  discovery  of  the  precious  metal 
stimulated  the  nation  to  fresh  enterprise,  and  even  relaxed  the  strings 
of  the  royal  purse  (in  general  most  reluctantly  unloosed)  to  a  slight 
disbursement.  With  a  ship  of  an  hundred  and  eighty  tons,  furnished 
by  the  queen,  and  called  the  Ayde  (Aid),  and  with  two  smaller  ves- 
sels, on  the  26th  of  May,  1577,  he  again  set  forth  in  quest  of  gold 
mines  and  the  North-west  Passage. 

He  passed  Friesland,  and  thence,  stretching  over  to  Labrador, 
sailed  up  the  straits  which  still  bears  his  name,  and  which  he  sup- 
posed to  be  a  channel  dividing  Asia  and  America.  A  plenty  of  the 
glittering  trash  which  had  deluded  him  was  found,  and  stowed  aboard 
the  ship ;  and  for  thirty  leagues  he  made  his  way  up  the  strait,  con- 
fidently supposing  that  it  led  to  the  Indian  ocean.  In  some  boats 
of  the  Esquimaux,  various  European  articles  were  found,  probably 
belonging  to  the  mariners  who  had  been  lost  on  the  preceding  voy- 
age. To  recover  these  or  to  revenge  their  death,  he  engaged  in 
hostilities  with  the  savages,  who  fought  with  much  desperation, 
flinging  themselves,  when  mortally  wounded,  into  the  sea.  A  num- 
ber of  them  having  been  slain,  the  rest  took  refuge  among  the  cliffs, 
all  the  men  of  the  party  making  their  escape.  "Two  women,"  says 
the  journal  of  the  voyage,  "not  being  so  apt  to  escape  as  the  men 
were,  the  one  being  olde,  the  other  encombred  with  a  yong  childe, 


THE  ENGLISH  IN   AMEEICA. 


25 


WO  tooke.  The  olde  wretch,  whom  divers  of  our  Saylers  supposed 
to  be  eyther  the  Divell  or  a  witch,  had  her  buskins  plucked  off,  to 
see  if  she  were  cloven-footed,  and  for  her  ougly  hewe  and  deformitie, 
we  let  her  goe;  the  yong  woman  and  the  childe  we  brought  away." 
All  attempts  to  recover  the  lost  mariners  proved  fruitless,  and  on 
the  21st  of  August,  ice  having  begun  to  form  around  the  ships,  Fro- 
bisher  perceived  the  danger  of  attempting  to  remain  or  proceed. 
Accordingly,  he  put  about,  and  with  his  vessels  freighted  with,  two 
hundred  tons  of  shining  earth,  returned  to  England. 

Wonderful  to  state,  the  fallacy  of  the  imagined  El  Dorado  was 
not  yet  discovered.  The  ore  was  pronounced,  genuine  by  men  of 
science,  and,  as  usual  where  the  thirst  for  gold  is  fairly  awakened, 
men  flocked  in  crowds  to  join  a  fresh  expedition.  Fifteen  ships, 
with  preparations  for  a  settlement,  were  fitted  out,  and,  under  com- 
mand of  Frobisher,  on  the  31st  of  May,  1573,  again  sailed  for  the 
land  of  imagined  treasure.  After  encountering  much  danger  from 
storms  and  icebergs,  the  fleet  entered  a  great  strait  leading  westward, 
probably  the  chief  entrance  to  Hudson's  Bay.  Finding  that  he  was 
not  in  the  passage  he  had  formerly  entered,  in  the  region  of  imagined 
gold,  Frobisher  put  about;  but  was  so  long  in  getting  to  the  desired 
locality  that  winter  almost  set  in  before  he  arrived  there;  his  sailors 
and  colonists,  disheartened  by  the  length  of  the  voyage,  clamoured 
for  return;  one  ship,  laden  with  supplies,  deserted;  and,  compelled 
to  abandon  his  plans  for  colonization  and  discovery,  the  admiral, 
freighting  his  ships  with  the  supposed  treasure,  returned  to  England 
By  this  time,  its  worthlessness  had  been  fairly  discovered;  and 
though  he  eagerly  besought  the  means  at  least  for  continuing  his 
attempts  at  the  North-west  Passage,  the  public  and  the  crown,  dis- 
couraged by  their  losses  and  misfortunes,  refused  to  lend  him  further 
assistance.  The  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed  in  naval  warfare 
and  adventure,  which  perpetuate  his  name  as  a  bold  leader  and  skil- 
ful navigator.  He  died  in  1694,  of  a  wound  which  he  received  in 
an  expedition  to  the  French  coasL 


26 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


■;> 
K5r 


|H 


kj   cjtL    Jfju    JT     iL     Jj    JjG       X    iL    Jb  o 


ENGLISH  ENTERPRISE. DRAKE.  —  SIR  HUMPHREY  flILBERT 

HIS  FIRST  ATTEMPT  TO  COLONIZE   AMERICA. SIR  AY  AL- 
TER RALEIGH.  —  SIR  HUMPHREY  SAILS  FOR  AMERICA 

SHIPWRECKS  AND  MISFORTUNES.  —  THE  RETURN  VOYAGE. 
—  TEVPE3TS. — LOSS  OF  SIR  HUMPHREY  AND  HIS  CREW. 


ii    -. 

■I  •! 


t  - 


I: 


England,  in  the  midst  of  continued  loss  and  misfortune  by  her 
attempts  at  disco verj'-,  at  mining,  and  at  colonization  in  the  New 
World,  was  now  fairly  embarked  in  her  grand  career  of  naval  enter- 
prise— the  wealth  and  renown  acquired  by  her  daring  mariner  in 
their  half-chivalrous,  half-piratical  expeditions  against  the  Spaniards 
of  America  serving  to  keep  alive  the  national  interest  in  that  region, 
and  a  knowledge  of  the  AYestern  Continent  being  incidentally  but 
materially  promoted  by  their  cruises.  At  the  same  time  that  Fro- 
bisher  was  making  his  unsuccessful  voyages  in  search  of  gold  and 
of  the  North-west  Passage,  Francis  Drake,  a  mariner  of  similar  and 
yet  greater  renown,  after  his  memorable  passage  of  the  straits  of 
Magellan,  was  engaged  in  a  survey  of  the  western  coast  of  North 
America,  in  the  course  of  which  he  touched  on  the  shores  of  Oregon, 
which  he  named  New  Albion. 

The  example  of  enterpise,  stimulated  by  motives  purer  and  more 
honourable  than  those  of  cither,  was  not  long  in  presenting  itself. 
Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  a  man  of  high  character  and  amiable  temper, 
both  a  soldier  and  a  civilian,  had  interested  himself  much  in  the  daring 
but  futile  voyages  of  his  countrymen  in  search  of  a  North-west  Pass- 
age, lie  had  even  written  a  treatise,  founded  on  the  testimony  and 
opinion  of  "many  learned,  men  and  painfull  travellers,"  "to  proove 
by  experience  of  sundrie  men's  travels  the  opening  of  some  part  of 
this  North-we.st  Passage;  whereby  good  hope  remaincth  of  the  rest." 
No  words  could  have  phrased  more  efl'ectually  that  expectant  longing, 
which  now  for  three  centuries  has  beset  men  of  courage,  of  enter- 
prise and  inquiry,  to  solve  the  grand  problem — "the  one  thing  yet 
left  undone  upon  tlie  earth  whereby  a  notable  mind  might  be  made 
famous  and  fortunate" — of  a  communication  between  the  two  oceans. 
That  terrible  problem,  whose  final  solution  we  have  just  witnessed, 


•# 


5(y|P#W.!w?4-)'*=?'r? 


-"^ 


THE    ENGLISH    IN    AMERICA. 


27 


will  ever  remain  burdened  witli  the  saddest  associations,  both  ancient 
and  modern,  of  heroic  courage  and  indefatigable  perseverance  doomed 
to  repeated  suffering,  disappointment,  and  destruction. 

In  the  year  1578  he  obtained  from  Elizabeth  a  patent,  conferring 
sole  jurisdiction,  both  civil  and  criminal,  over  a  very  extensive 
territory  in  America,  not  precisely  located,  on  condition  that  he 
should  plant  a  colony  there  within  six  years.  His  half-brother,  the 
famous  Sir  Walter  Ealeigh,  then  twenty-six  years  of  age,  his  imagin- 
ation fired  by  the  narratives  of  Columbus,  of  Cortes,  and  of  other 
famous  pioneers  of  the  New  World,  also  engaged  in  the  enterprise. 
This  expedition,  delayed  and  weakened  by  various  misfortunes, 
finally  sailed  with  only  two  vessels,  one  of  which  was  captured  by 
the  Spaniards ;  the  crew  of  the  other  returned  without  effecting  any 
thing  in  the  way  of  settlement. 

An  interval  of  several  years  elapsed,  during  which  Raleigh  rose 
high  in  the  royal  favour;  and  in  1583,  the  brothers  renewed  their 
enterprise,  Sir  Humphrey,  in  person,  commanding  the  expedition. 
The  queen,  to  express  her  favour,  at  his  departure  bestowed  on  him 
an  anchor  of  gold,  with  a  great  pearl  set  in  it,  which,  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  he  wore,  with  allowable  complacency,  on  his 
breast.  The  fleet  consisted  of  five  sail,  the  largest  of  which,  the  Raleigh, 
was  furnished  by  the  famous  man  after  whom  it  was  named.  There 
vere  two  hundred  and  sixty  men  on  board,  including  mechanics  and 
mineralogists;  and  a  learned  Hungarian,  named  Parmenius,  was  taken 
as  the  chronologer  of  the  expedition.  There  was  also  provided,  says 
one  of  the  commanders,  "Musike  in  great  variety;  not  omitting  the 
least  toyes,  as  Morris-dancers,  hobby-horse,  and  the  like  conceits,  to 
delight  the  savage  people,  whom  we  intended  to  win  by  all  faire 
meanes  possible." 

Soon  after  their  departure,  the  Raleigh,  on  account  of  an  infectious 
disease,  put  back;  and  Sir  Humphrey,  with  the  remainder  of  the 
fleet,  kept  on  to  Newfoundland.  At  St.  John's  Harbour,  at  that 
island,  lie  summoned  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  fishermen  to  wit- 
ness t]:e  ceremony  of  taking  possession  in  the  name  of  the  English 
sover'^ign — an  operation  which  he  performed  by  digging  a  turf,  and 
setting  up  a  pillar,  to  which  the  arms  of  England  were  affixed. 
Silver  ore,  as  it  was  supposed,  was  discovered,  and  was  taken  aboard 
the  vessels,  one  of  which  was  abandoned,  while  with  the  remainder 
Sir  Humphrey  pursued  his  vo^-aLrc  along  the  coast  towards  the  south. 
On  his  wa}'-,  the  largest  ship  remaining,  with  the  ore,  was  wrecked. 


m 

42 


*   i 


71 


28 


AMERICA  ILLUSTEATED. 


and  a  hundred  souls  perished,  including  the  Hungarian.  Eeturn 
was  now  considered  necessary,  and  in  the  midst  of  terrible  storms 
and  tempests,  the  prows  were  turned  homeward.  "  Sir  Humphrey 
had  chosen  to  sail  in  a  little  tender,  called  the  Squirrel,  a  mere  cockle- 
shell in  size — '  too  small  to  pass  through  the  ocean  sea  at  that  season 
of  the  year.'  In  vain  did  the  officers  of  the  Hinde,  the  larger  vessel, 
entreat  him,  in  this  dangerous  weather,  to  shift  his  flag  aboard  their 
ship.  He  came  on  board,  for  a  convivial  meeting,  but  returned  to 
his  slender  craft,  saying,  'I  will  not  desert  my  little  company,  with 
whom  I  have  passed  so  many  storms  and  perils.' 

"The  weather  grew  heavier  and  heavier;  the  oldest  sailors  de- 
claring that  they  had  never  seen  such  seas — 'breaking  very  high,' 
says  a  spectator,  'and  pyramid-wise' — the  very  worst  sea  that  is 
known.  Lights  were  burned  at  night,  and  the  little  Squirrel,  for  a 
long  time,  was  seen  gallantly  contending  with  the  waves,  which 
almost  ingulphed  her.  Once  she  came  so  near  that  they  of  the  Hinde 
could  see  Sir  Humphrey  sitting  by  the  mainmast,  with  a  book  in  his 
hand,  reading.  He  looked  up,  and  cried  cheerily,  *  We  are  as  necre 
to  Heaven  by  sea  as  by  land.'  But  the  seas  broke  over  her  more 
heavily;  about  midnight,  all  at  once,  the  lights  were  extinguished; 
and  in  the  morning  nothing  was  seen  of  the  good  Sir  Humphrey  or 
his  little  ship.  She  had  doubtless  been  whelmed  by  the  toppling 
down  of  some  huge  pyramid  of  water.  Such  was  the  melancholy 
but  honourable  end  of  one  of  the  worthiest  and  most  persevering 
patrons  of  English  enterprise.  He  perished  in  the  pursuance  of  bis 
own  exalted  maxim :  '  That  he  is  not  worthy  to  live  at  all,  who,  for 
fear  or  danger  of  death,  shunneth  his  country's  service  or  his  own 
honor;  for  death  is  inevitable  and  fame  immortal.'"* 

*  Discoverers,  &c.,  of  America. 


Tllifi    ENGLISH    IN  AMERICA. 


29 


CHAPTEH   lY. 


THE    PATENT    OP    RALEIGH.  —  HE    DISPATCHES    AMIDA8    AND 
BARLOW    TO    CAROLINA:     THEIR    REPORT. — THE    COUNTRY 
NAMED  VIRGINIA. —  '•  OYAOES  OF  DAVIS,  ETC.  —  SECOND   EX- 
PEDITION   OF    RALEIGH,   UNDER   LANE. SETTLEMENT  AT 

ROANOKE. — FOLLY  AND  CRUELTY  OF  THE  ENGLISH. 

— THE    INDIANS. — MASSACRE   BY  THE  ENGLISH. 

— FAILURE  AND  RETURN  OF  THE  EXPEDITION. 


Kaleigh,  whose  enterprising  spirit  was  dismayed  neither  by  the 
loss  of  his  brother,  nor  the  wreck  and  failure  of  the  late  expedition, 
immediately  resolved  to  renew  the  attempt,  and  secure  to  himself 
the  glory  of  the  first  founder  of  an  English  settlement  in  America. 
To  one  so  high  in  the  queen's  favour,  letters  patent,  of  the  most  liberal 
nature,  were  readily  issued,  granting  him  power  to  colonize,  with 
almost  unlimited  personal  jurisdiction,  "such  remote,  heathen,  and 
barbarous  lands  as  are  not  actually  possessed  by  any  Christians,  or 
inhabited  by  any  Christian  people."  No  particular  region  was  spe- 
cified as  the  subject  of  this  indefinite  grant;  but,  warned  by  the  fate 
of  former  enterprises,  he  had  resolved  to  plant  his  settlement  in  the 
milder  regions  of  the  south.  The  very  year  after  the  loss  of  Sir 
Ilumphrey,  on  the  27th  of  April,  1584,  he  dispatched  two  vessels, 
well  provided  with  men  and  supplies,  under  two  experienced  cap- 
tains, Amidas  and  Barlow,  to  the  American  coast. 

Taking  the  circuitous  route  of  the  Canaries  and  the  West  Indies, 
(which,  strange  to  say,  for  many  years  was  considered  the  only  prac- 
ticable track,)  after  a  voyage  of  two  months,  they  arrived  oS  the 
shores  of  Carolina.  For  more  than  a  hundred  miles  they  sailed 
along  the  coast,  seeking  a  harbour,  and  on  the  13th  of  July,  entered 
Ocracoke  Inlet.  Here  they  landed  on  an  island,  delighted  with  the 
softness  of  the  climate  and  the  beauty  of  the  vegetation,  and  took 
formal  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  Elizabeth.  The 
natives,  at  first  shy  and  timid,  proved  gentle  and  friendly,  and  on 
the  island  of  Eoanoke  the  voyagers  were  entertained  with  much 
hospitality  at  the  residence  of  the  chief.  After  making  some  brief 
survey  of  the  coast,  they  returned  to  England,  where  the  glowing 
description  which  they  gave  of  the  beauties  of  the  region,  encouraged 


30 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


If 


I 


i 


f 


I! 


ti 


II 


the  projector,  and  revived  fresh  enterprise  in  the  nation.  In  honour 
of  his  patroness,  Raleigh  bestowed  on  the  newly  discovered  region, 
the  name  of  Virginia — a  name,  like  that  of  Florida  and  of  Louis- 
iana, originally  applied  to  a  tract  far  more  extensive  than  even  the 
broad  and  beautiful  state  by  which  it  is  now  borne. 

A  fresh  stimulus,  at  this  time,  was  given  to  the  Xorth-Western  entor- 
prise,  and  the  voyages  of  Davis,  in  1585,  6,  7,  though  unsuccessful  in 
accomplishing  their  design,  added  greatly  to  the  geographical  knowl- 
edge of  the  dreary  seas  and  coasts  in  that  direction.  The  vov-ages  and 
discoveries  of  the  famous  Henry  Hudson,  resulting  in  his  own  de- 
struction, but  in  the  eternal  commemoration  of  his  name,  occurred 
a  few  3-ear3  later.     (See  "The  Dutch  in  America.") 

The  year  after  the  return  of  his  pioneer-vessels,  (1585.)  Raleigh, 
then  in  the  full  tide  of  court  favour  and  increasing  wealth,  fitted  out 
a  fresh  expedition,  of  seven  vessels,  with  an  hundred  and  eight  col- 
onists, under  command  of  .Ral})h  (afterwards  Sir  Ralph)  Lane,  des- 
tined for  the  shores  of  Carolina.  His  friend,  Sir  Richard  Grenville, 
one  of  the  bravest  and  choicest  spirits  of  the  age,  commanded  the 
fleet,  which,  on  the  9th  of  Ajjril,  set  sail  from  Plymouth.  Taking 
the  usual  circuitous  route,  it  passed  through  Ocracoke  Inlet  to  tbe 
island  of  Roanoke ;  and  Grenville,  with  Lane  and  others,  made  a 
tour  of  exploration.  They  were  well  entertained  by  the  natives 
whom  they  encountered — in  return  for  which,  as  usual  with  the 
Euro[iean  adventurers,  provoked  by  sliglit  injury,  they  t<x)k  cruel 
and  indiscriminate  revenge.  "At  Aquascogoc,"  s.iya  Sir  It-ilph, 
"the  Indians  stole  a  Silver  Cup,  wherefore  we  burnt  the  towne,  and 
spoyled  their  come,"  &c.,  &c.  What  an  exceedingly  low  standard 
of  moralit}',  of  policy,  of  common  decency  even,  do  act*  like  these, 
recorded  a  hundred  times  by  their  autliora  with  the  mo:<t  uaivc  un- 
ccnsciousness,  exhi])it ! 

The  settlers,  under  Lane,  left  on  the  island  of  Roaijokc,  at  first 
were  all  enjoyment  at  the  serenity  of  the  climate  and  l>eauty  of  the 
country.  "It  is  the  goodliest  soil,"  says  their  governor,  "und«T  the 
cojie  of  heaven;  the  most  jileasing  territory  of  tlie  world;  the  con- 
tinent is  of  a  huge  and  unknown  greatness,  and  well  peopled  and 
towncd,  though  savagely."  The  native  culture  of  tobacco,  of  maize, 
and  the  potato,  was  observed  with  much  interest;  an  interest  which 
would  have  been  rcdoubltHl,  could  the  visitors  have  foreseen  the  vast 
magnitude  and  importance  which  the  production  of  these  articles 
was  destined  one  day  to  assume. 


THE   ENGLISH    IN    AMEKICA. 


31 


■It 


A  more  particular  observation  of  the  Indians  than  had  hitherto 
been  made,  was  taken  by  the  colonists,  who  describe  them  as  gener- 
ally a  feeble,  inoflensive  race,  dwelling  in  small  villages,  and  forming 
tribes  of  no  great  separate  importance.  Master  lieriot,  who  esua- 
cially  devoted  himself  to  the  subject,  travelled  among  them,  and 
endeavoured  to  indoctrinate  them  with  some  idea  of  Christianity. 
They  manifested  much  reverence  for  the  Bible  which  he  displayed  to 
them,  kissing  it  and  hugging  it  to  their  breasts,  and  doubtless  con- 
sidering it  "a  great  medicine."  They  had  a  s])eeies  of  belief  in  the 
Divine  Existence  and  the  immortality  of  the  soul;  and  the  travellei 
tells  a  pleasant  story  of  one  of  them  who  had  been  buried  for  dead, 
but  was  afterwards  exhumed  and  revived.  According  to  the  Indians, 
the  recovered  patient  "showed  that  although  his  body  had  laine  dead 
in  the  grave,  yet  his  soule  lived,  and  had  travailed  far  in  a  long 
broad  way,  on  both  sides  whereof  grewe  more  sweete,  fayre,  and 
delicate  trees  and  fruits  than  ever  he  had  scene  before;  at  length  he 
came  to  the  most  brave  and  fayre  houses,  neere  which  he  met  hie 
Father,  that  was  dead  long  agoe,  who  gave  him  charge  to  goe  baeke 
to  shew  his  friends  what  good  there  was  to  doe,  to  injoy  the  pleasures 
of  that  place;  whieli  when  hee  had  done,  hee  should  come  again." 

Allured  by  fanciful  and  perhaps  misunderstood  tales  concerning 
great  treasures  at  the  source  of  the  Eoanoke,  Lane,  with  a  number 
of  his  [jcople,  ascended  its  rapid  stream.  Tlieir  provisions  were 
soon  exhau.sted,  yet  they  pressed  on,  "seeing  they  had  yet  a  dog, 
that,  being  bonded  with  saxafras  leaves,  would  richly  feede  them  in 
their  return,"  but  accomplished  nothing  of  their  object,  and  returned 
disappointed.  A  most  outrageous  deed  was  presently  perpetrated. 
The  neighboring  Indian.<»,  it  is  sai(f,  jealous  of  tlic  intrusion  of  the 
strangers,  had  con.si)ircd  against  them,  and  Lane,  with  others,  desir- 
ing an  interview  with  King  Wingina,  the  principal  chief  of  that 
region,  treacherously  attacked  and  massacred  him  and  his  attendants 
In  June,  1586,  the  famous  Sir  Francis  Drake,  with  a  fleet  of  twenty- 
three  ships,  came  to  anchor  ofl*  the  island;  and,  though  that  ener- 
getic commander  did  every  thing  in  his  power  to  encourage  the 
colonists,  and  to  furnish  them  w^th  all  necessary  supjilifs,  yet, 
desponding  of  Bucccs-s,  they  desired  lo  return  to  their  hotnes.  Ao 
cordingly,  he  took  them  aboard  his  fliet,  and  tarried  them  to  I'lng- 
land — the  principal  result  of  their  American  sojourn  being  the 
introduction  to  that  country  of  the  custom  of  smoking  tobacco, 
which  they  I'tx^  learned  of  the  Indians. 
Vol  IV.— ai 


c:  - 


M 


i 


J 


82  AMEIJICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


CHAPTEIi   ?. 

SMALL  SETTLEMENt  PLANTED  BY  QRENVILLE  AT  ROANOKE  DE- 
STROYED BY  THE  INDIANS. — THIRD  EXPEDITION   OF    RALEIGH. 
—  FIRST  ENGLISH  CHILD  IN  AMERICA-  —  LOSS  AND  SUP 

POSED     DESTRUCTION     OF    THE    ROANOKE     COLONY. 

MISFORTUNES   01  RALEIGH. — TARDINESS  AND  ILL- 
FORTUNE   OF  ENGLISH  ENTERPRISE.  —  REFLECTIONS. 

OxLY  a  few  days  after  the  hasty  and  ill-advised  departure  of  Lane 


led  by 


ih 


and  Ills  people,  a  vessel,  disp 
plies,  arrived  at  the  deserted  settlement;  and  soon  afterwards,  Gren- 
ville,  with  three  more  ships,  also  well  supplied,  came  to  the  same 
place.  Uc  left  fifteen  men  on  the  island;  but  the  next  comers  found 
there  only  the  ruins  of  their  fort  and  dwellings,  amid  which  human 
bones,  the  evidence  of  Indian  hostility,  lay  bleaching. 

E.ilcigh,  on  learning  of  the  desertion  of  his  settlement,  with  inde- 
fatig:il)le  industry,  set  to  work  afresh;  and  in  April,  1587,  despatched 
another  expedition,  with  e.«p?cial  provision  for  the  cultivation  of  the 
land,  and  with  a  number  of  women,  that  the  comforts  of  a  home  might 
be  early  established.  In  July,  the  fleet  arrived  at  Koanoke,  where 
the  sad  evidences  of  the  destruction  of  Grcnville's  men  were  ob- 
.'icrved;  ainl,  though  the  projector  had  ordered  that  the  new  setile- 
nicnt  should  be  founded  on  Chesapeake  Bay,  yet,  on  account  of  the 
impatience  of  the  naval  commander,  the  governor,  White,  and  liia 
]ieojile  di.^enibarked  on  the  i.sland.  Indian  hostilities  were  soon 
renewed  in  the  murder  of  one  of  the  settlers— and  the  laffei',  attack- 
ing a  party  of  the  natives  by  night,  found  too  late  that  tlu-y  b(.'K)n'n'(l 
to  a  friendly  tril)e.  On  the  Iblii  of  August,  15^7,  \'irgiMia  Dare, 
the  liist  child  born  of  English  parents  in  the  United  Slates,  was 


u.-luMcd  into  a  brief  and  ill-fated  being. 


White,  by  the  urgent  rc<picst  of  the  colonists,  consisting,  at  his 
departure,  of  an  hundred  and  eighteen  |)erson.4,  of  whom  seventeen 
vv(!re  women,  and  two  children,  returned  to  Krigland  iti  one  of  the 
vcs,y(.'ls,  to  provide  further  supplies.  But  the  m'-rnontous  events  just 
then  occurring  in  the  equipment  ami  defeat  of  the  Spanish  Armada 
retarded  the  desired  n.ssistunce;    and  liideigh,  who  had  cxj)eiided 


THE   ENGLSH    IN   AJIEKICA. 


33 


forty  thousand  pounds  of  his  estate  in  the  v;  in  attempt  to  colonize 
Virginia,  was  compelled  to  relinquish  the  enterprise  to  others — as- 
signing certain  of  his  rights  to  a  company  of  London  merchants 
Such  delay,  however,  occurred,  in  fitting  out  a  fresh  expedition, 
that  it  was  not  until  1590  that  White  returned  to  Roanoke;  but  the 
settlers  had  disappeared;  and  though  lialeigh,  it  is  said,  sent  to 
search  for  them  on  five  several  occasions,  no  trace  of  the  late  of  this 
lost  colony  has  ever  been  found.  Probably,  like  the  former,  it 
perished  from  Indian  hostility. 

Strangely  enough,  all  tlie  eiTorts  of  one  of  the  irost  intelligent, 
wealthy,  and  persevering  men  of  England  to  ell'oct  a  settlement  in 
America  proved  ineffectual.  Sir  Walter  llalcigh,  besides  his  re- 
peated efforts  in  behalf  of  Virginian  colonization,  had  aided  the  nortli- 
west  voyages,  destined  to  end  in  results  alike  futile,  and,  in  his  old 
age,  broken  down  by  imprisonment  and  suffering,  headed  an  equally 
fruitless  expedition  to  the  Orinoco  and  the  tropical  coasts  of  Gui- 
ana. Whatever  his  errors  as  a  courtier  and  a  favourite,  history 
will  do  him  justice  as  a  statesman,  a  soldier,  a  mariner,  a  discoverer, 
and  a  founder  of  colonization — the  most  brilliant  character  of  a 
remarkable  age;  and  America,  in  especial,  will  always  look  back 
with  reverence  and  afiection  on  the  earliest  and  most  persevering 
promoter  of  her  welfare — a  man  whose  faults  were  those  of  the  time, 
whose  virtues  were  his  own;  and  who,  in  addition  to  the  shining 
attributes  of  a  liead  to  plan  and  a  hand  to  execute,  possessed  the 
more  endearing  quality  of  a  heart  to  feel  and  to  commiserate. 

Such  repeated  loss  and  mortality  had  now  made  men  wary  ol 
undertaking  American  colonization.  '  dl  hopes  of  Virginia  thus 
abandoned,"  says  a  later  adventurer,  "it  lay  dead  and  obscured  from 
lo'JO  to  this  year  1002."  In  March  of  that  year  Bartholomew  Gosnold, 
under  the  advice  of  Raleigh,  tried  the  experiment  of  sailing  directly 
to  America,  instead  of  taking  the  circuitous  route  of  the  Canaries  and 
West  Indies.  Singular  to  relate,  the  experiment  succeeded;  and 
after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks,  in  a  small  vessel,  the  navigator  came 
to  Mas.sachusetts.  lie  landed  on  Cape  Cod,  and  on  the  Vineyard 
islands,  and  having  freighted  his  little  bark  with  sassdfnui  obtained 
by  traffic  from  the  Indians,  returned  in  June  to  England.  Enterprise, 
Btiinulated  by  his  success,  was  renewed,  in  the  diminutive  vessels 
cf  the  day,  and  much  of  the  eastern  seaboard  w;vs  surveyed.  Such 
voyages,  familiarizing  navigators  with  the  coast  and  the  most  desira- 
ble loealiiies,  juepared  the  way  for  fresh  attempts  at  settlement 


Lk-^ 


: 


34 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


"While  her  rivals,  long  ere  this  time,  had  succeeded  in  gaining  8 
permanent  footing  on  the  shores  of  the  New  World,  and  had  con- 
quered or  founded  wealthy  empires  in  the  south,  England,  her  claims 
and  her  endeavours  chiefly  confined  to  the  more  barren  and  incle- 
ment regions  of  the  north,  had  as  yet  reaped  nothing  but  loss  and 
misfortune  from  her  enterprise  in  the  New  World.  Not  a  single 
spot  on  that  vast  continent  now  mostly  peopled  by  her  children,  was 
the  settled  habitation  of  an  Englishman.  "  In  reviewing  the  history 
of  American  colonization,  the  mind  is  at  first  struck  with  the  won- 
derful brilliancy  and  rapidity  of  Spanish  discovery  and  conquest 
during  the  first  century  of  their  career;  an  impression  naturally  fol- 
lowed by  the  reflection  that  in  the  end  no  substantial  advantage  has 
accrued  to  the  nation  whose  enterpYise  laid  open  the  pathway  to  the 
New  World,  and  whose  valour  and  genius  were  the  first  to  avail 
themselves  of  its  tempting  opportunities.  Extermination  of  the 
native  inhabitants,  bigoted  exclusion  of  foreigners,  and,  in  the  end, 
outrageous  oppression  of  her  own  dependencies,  have  marked,  almost 
without  exception,  the  colonial  administration  of  Spain,  and  have 
finally  resulted  in  its  nearly  complete  annihilation.    Her  once  numer- 


ous provinces,  alienated   by 


mismanagement 


and   tyranny,  have 


found,  in  republican  anarchy,  a  questionable  relief  from  parental 
misrule;  while  that  beautiful  island,  almost  the  solitary  jewel  in  her 
crown,  and  only  proving,  by  its  exception,  the  general  rule  of  her 
losses,  is  held  by  a  tenure  so  insecure  as  hardly  to  deserve  the  name 
of  [)ossession. 

"For  an  hundred  and  ten  years,  the  rival  nations  of  France  and 
England  hardly  took  a  step  in  the  same  direction,  or,  if  they  did, 
under  circumstances  of  such  gross  ignorance  and  infatuation,  as  were 
almost  certain  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  success.  The  various 
and  widely-severed  colonies  of  France,  founded,  through  a  century 
of  misfortunes  and  discouragements,  by  ardent  and  indefatigable 
servants  of  the  crown,  have,  with  one  or  two  insignificant  exceptions, 
slipped  from  her  hands — not  from  any  want  of  loyalty  or  national 
alVection  in  the  provincial  inhabitants,  but  from  the  feebleness  of 
the  French  marine,  ever  unable  to  compete  with  that  of  her  haughty 
rival,  and  quite  inefiieient  for  the  protection  and  retention  of  dis- 
tant colonics. 

"England,  the  last  to  enter  on  the  noble  enterprise  of  peopling 
the  New  Hemisphere,  but  finally  bringing  to  the  task  a  spirit  of 
progress,  a  love  of  freedom,  and  a  strer.gth  of  principle,  unknown  to 


THE   fiNOLISIl   IN    AMERICA. 


S5 


her  predecessors,  has  founded,  amid  disastrous  and  unpromising 
beginnings,  an  empire  mightier  and  more  enduring  than  all  or  any 
of  its  compeers;  lost,  indeed,  for  the  most  part,  to  her  private  aggrand- 
izement, but  not  to  the  honour  of  her  name  or  the  best  interests  of 
mankind;  an  empire  already  prosperous  beyond  all  example  in  his- 
tory, and  destined,  it  is  probable,  at  no  distant  day,  to  unite  under 
its  genial  protection  every  league  jof  that  vast  continent  stretching 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  from  the  tropical  forests  of  Darien 
u>  the  eternal  snows  of  the  Arctic  Circle."* 

*  Dtacoverere,  &c.,  of  America. 


if 


i 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  VIRGINIA. 


ujuAiriiJliJu    !• 

MEMOIR  OP  CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. — HIS    TOUTHPUL  ADYBN- 
TURES  AND  SERVICES. — HE  TURNS  HERMIT. — HIS  ADVEN- 
TURES   IN    FRANCE. — HE    IS   PLUNG  OVERBOARD. — 8EA- 
JIGHT. — TRAVELS  IN   IT.\LY. — HIS   CAMPAIGN    AGAINST 
THE     TURKS. — SIEGE    OF     REUALL. — THE    THREE 
TURKS'   HEADS, — SMITH  SENT  A   SLAVE  TO  TAR- 
TARY:   HIS  WONDERFUL  ESCAPE. — SUBSEQUENT 
ADVENTURES. — RETURNS    TO    ENGLAND. 

No  account  of  American,  and  still  less  of  Virginian  colonization, 
would  be  complete  without  some  memoir  of  that  remarkable  man  to 
wliosn  unwearied  personal  exertions  the  foundation  of  an  English 
commonwealth  in  this  country  is  almost  entirely  due.  Eomance 
would  hardly  venture  to  imagine  adventures  more  marvellous,  or 
courage  more  chivalrous  than  his ;  and  when  to  a  temper  the  most 
sprightly,  adventurous,  and  enterprising  of  his  day,  were  added  the 
unsurpassed  qualities  of  judgment,  of  perseverance,  of  fortitude,  and 
of  forbearance,  the  result  could  hardly  fail  to  be  a  character  of  no 
ordinary  greatness,  and  the  work  of  his  life  a  work  destined  in  some 
manner  to  all'ect  the  interests  of  mankind.  Ilis  extraordinary 
career,  fortunately  detailed,  in  good  part,  with  modest  quaintness, 
by  his  own  pen,  will  ever  remain  the  delight  of  youth,  and  the 
admiration  of  the  historical  reader. 

Captain  John  Smith,  iiicomj)arably  the  greatest  and  most  famous 
of  English  adventurers  in  America,  was  born  of  a  good  family  at 
Willoughby,  Liiicoliisliire,  in  157U.  Ilis  mind,  from  childhood,  set 
on  adventure  and  travel,  at  the  age  of  tliiiteen,  ho  secretly  sold  his 
books  and  satchel,  and  was  about  going  off  to  sea,  when  interrupted 
by  the  death  of  his  father.  His  guardians  apprenticed  him  to  a 
merchant  of  liynn,  whom,  in  consequence  of  refusal  to  gratify  hia 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF   VIRGINIA. 


S7 


the 


^ 


tnste  Tor  the  sea,  he  speedily  quitted,  and  with  hia  young  pati^jfini,  ike 
son  of  Lord  Willoughby,  went  into  France.  Thence  he  repaiJtt'i  to 
the  Netherlands,  then  engaged  in  tlieir  struggle  ligainat  Sjjaisiisli 
tvranny;  and  served  some  three  or  four  years  under  Coptaia  I>!!ix- 
burv — an  Knglishman,  commanding,  it  would  seem,  in  the  serviee 
of  Prince  Maurice.  He  sailed  to  Scotland,  but  was  ahipwrecke)i  ai 
Holy  I.~le,  and  finding  no  chance  of  preferment  at  the  Scottu^lai  wjcurt, 
again  betook  himself  to  Willoughby.  Here,  by  one  of  tUoee  fR'iiks 
common  to  ardent  and  imaginative  3'outh,  he  chose  to  turii  imenjiiit 
— though  rather  after  the  fashion  of  Fjiar  Tuck  than  tlie  recluase  of 
Warkworth.  In  a  great  wood,  far  from  the  town,  he  built  kiKUJC-jf  a 
shelter  of  boughs,  where,  without  bedding,  or  any  of  the  coimiTemi- 
ences  of  civilized  life,  he  made  his  abode.  In  the  curt  langri^ge  of 
his  narrative,  (which,  like  Caesar's,  runs  in  the  third  persox)  "Ilia 
studie  was  Machiavilh  Art  of  Warre,  and  Marcus  Aurelius;  hi£  exer- 
cise a  good  horse,  with  his  lance  and  ring;  his  food  was  U'nowyJ^J  to  be 
more  of  venison  than  anythiiifj  else;  *  *  *  Long  these  pJeasnires 
could  not  content  him,  but  hee  returned  againe  to  the  Ijn-^  CfvTjia- 
trics" — intending  to  make  his  way  to  the  east  of  Germany,  tiieo 
distracted  with  Turkish  warfare,  and  fight  on  the  side  of  CLrkJica 
dom.     At  this  time  he  was  only  nineteen. 

Taking  ship  for  France,  he  was  despoiled  of  all  his  baggage  bjr 
four  sharfsers,  and,  selling  his  cloak  to  pay  for  his  passage^  laading 
in  Picanly,  went  in  pursuit  of  them.  Keduced  to  great  d;.>»tr«ffiE  amd 
poverty,  "wandering  from  port  to  port  to  finde  some  man  '.r  waure, 
he  s{»eut  that  he  had,  and  in  a  Forest,  ncere  dead  with  gr:.>f«  ai^d 
c<.'Id,  a  rich  Farmer  found  him  by  a  faire  Fountaine  under  a  iree. 
This  kinde  Pesant  relceved  him  againe,  to  his  content."  Ncy(t  tog 
after,  passing  through  a  forest,  he  fell  in  with  Cursell,  cm&  of  \m 
despjilcr.'.  "His  piercing  injuries  had  so  small  patience,  aavkboat 
any  word  thoy  both  drew,  and  in  a  short  time  Curaell  fell  to  llie 
ground,  when  from  an  old  ruinated  Tower  the  inhabitants  Sicdng 
them,  were  SJitisfied,  when  they  heard  Cursell  confease  what  haul 
fonnerly  |ta5scd,"  We  next  find  tlie  youthful  adventurer  ei^jojuig 
the  hospitality  of  a  noble  carl  (who  had  known  him  in  EnigJazi!*!)  at 
Lis  chateau  in  P>ritttriy;  wiiencc,  apparently  better  auppued,  be 
travelled  over  much  of  France,  surveying  fortresses  and  oc'aer  iJt^ar 
blc  objects  of  examination. 

At  Marseilles,  by  ill-fortune,  he  embarked  on  boanl  a  rcajel 
freighted  with   "a  route  of  pilgrims,  of  divers  nation.s,"  gr.Ii-s  *^ 


88 


AMERICA   ILLUSTKATED. 


Rome,  and  put  to  sea.  Compelled  by  tempests,  the  ship  anchored 
under  the  Isle  of  St.  Mary,  oil"  Nice,  where  the  "inhumane  Provin- 
ciails,"  concluding  that  Smith,  in  his  double  capacity  of  Englishman 
and  heretic  was  their  Jonah,  set  upon  him,  "hourely  cursing  him," 
he  tells  us,  "not  oneiy  for  a  Huguenoit  but  his  Nation  tley  swore 
were  all  Pyrats,  and  so  vildly  lailed  on  his  dread  sovereigiie  Queene 
Klizubt'th,  and  that  they  never  should  have  faire  weather  as  long  as 
bee  was  aboard  them ;  their  disputations  grew  to  that  passion''  (stim- 
ulated, perhaps,  by  the  liberal  use  of  a  staff,  with  which  the  gallant 
Cai)tain  requited  their  assaults)  "that  they  threw  him  overboard,  yet 
God  brought  him  to  that  little  Isle,  where  was  no  inhabitants  but  a 
few  kine  and  goatr  "  With  his  customary  good-luck,  however,  next 
mornihg  he  was  taken  on  board  of  the  Britaine,  a  French  ship,  and 
handsoinely  entertained  by  the  captain.  Sailing  to  Alexandria,  the 
ship  discharged  her  freight,  and  thence  passed  over  to  the  northern 
coasts.  Meeting  with  a  hirge  Venetian  argosy,  the  French  captiiin 
hailed  her,  and  was  answered  by  a  shot  which  lost  him  a  man.  A 
naval  battle,  contested  with  great  fury,  and  lasting  for  some  hours, 
with  all  the^  horrors  of  broadsides,  boarding,  danger  of  conflagration, 
Jcc,  ensued ;  but  after  the  argosy  had  lost  twenty  men  and  was  ready 
to  sink,  she  yielded.  All  was  now  active  exertion  in  stopping  her 
leaks  and  transferring  her  c:irgo  to  the  victor.  "1"he  Silkes,  Vel- 
vets, CIdth  of  Gold,  and  Tissue,  Pyasters,  Chicquecnes,  and  Sultanie.^, 
(whicii  is  gold  and  silver,)  they  uidoaded  in  four  and  twenty  houres, 
was  woiiderfull,  whereof  having  sufficient,  and  tired  with  toilo,  they 
c^ist  her  olf  with  her  company,  with  as  much  good  merchandize  a3 
Avould  have  fraughted  anoliier  Pritaine,  that  was  but  two  hundred 
I'unnes,  slue  foure  or  five  hundred."  As  a  rewai'd  for  his  valour 
in  tliis  desperate  engagement,  Smith  received  five  hundred  chic- 
queenes  "and  a  little  box  (.i<id  sent  him"  (he  piously  add.s)  "worth 
neere  as  nmeh  more." 

Landing  in  Piedmont,  he  travelled  through  much  of  Italy,  spent 
siiuie  time  in  survej'ing  the  rugged  and  pictures(pie  coast  of  Albania 
and  Dalinatia,  and,  eager  fir  a  chance  to  fight  against  the  Turks, 
finally  made  his  way  to  Grat;^,  in  Syria,  where  was  the  court  of  the 
Ar(,'hduke  I'Vrdinand,  of  Ausiria.  No  time  could  have  been  more 
pidliitious  to  his  hopes.  The  memorable  war  with  the  Great  Turk, 
Mahomet  II.,  was  then  in  full  eontest,  and  the  young  adventurer, 
jitiddueed  by  some  of  his  I'ountrymen  to  the  high  ofiiccrs  of  the 
.niperial  service,  soon  found  an  ample  field  for  the  display  of  las 


THE  SETTLEMENT   OF   VIEOINIA. 


39 


ihe 


rer, 
the 

Ills 


courage  and  military  genius.  At  the  siege  of  Oljmpcha,  poon  after 
he  joined  the  army,  by  an  ingenious  system  of  telegraphic  fires,  he 
concerted  a  plan  with  the  garrison,  by  which  the  Turks,  with  groat 
slaughter,  were  compelled  to  raise  the  siege.  lie  now  received  tlie 
command  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  in  the  regiment  of  the 
famous  Earl  ^feldritch,  and  executed  other  ^.genious  devices  against 
the  enemy,  which,. in  his  biography,  are  quaintly  titled  "An  exctl- 
lent  stratagem  by  Smith;  another  not  much  worse;"  "A  pretty 
stratagem  of  fire-works  by  Smith,"  &c.,  kc  One  of  these  con- 
trivances, at  the  siege  of  Stowlle-Wesenburg,  (1601,)  con.sisted  of  a 
great  number  of  bombs  or  grenades,  prepared  with  all  manner  of 
explosive  and  combustible  materials,  which,  by  means  of  great 
slings,  he  flung  into  the  thickest  of  the  besieged.  "At  miduiglit, 
upon  the  alarum,"  he  says,  "it  was  a  feareful  sight  to  behold  the  short 
flaming  course  of  their  flight  in  the  aire,  but  presently  after  their 
fall,  the  lamentable  noise  of  the  mi.«crably  slaughtered  Tarlces  was 
most  wonderful  to  heare."  This  town,  which  the  latter  had  held  f  )r 
nearly  sixty  years,  was  finally  taken  by  storm,  "with  such  a  mcr- 
cilesse  execution  as  was  most  pitifull  to  behold."  Soon  after  they 
were  again  defeated  with  the  loss  of  six  thousand  men,  in  a  battle  on 
the  plains  of  Girke,  and  Smith,  half  of  whose  regiment  was  cut  to 
pieces,  as  he  says,  "had  his  horse  slaine  under  him  and  himself  sore 
wounded;  but  he  was  not  long  unmounted,  ybr  there  was  cnuice 
enough  of  horses  that  wanted  masters." 

The  Christian  army,  seventeen  thou.«and  strong,  under  Prince 
Moysesand  Earl  Meldritch,  laid  siege  to  Kegall,  a  strong  and  almost 
impregnable  town  in  the  mountains  of  Transylvania,  garrisoned 
by  a  large  force  of  "Turks,  Tartars,  Bandittoes,  Rennegadoes,  and 
such  like."  The  work  of  making  trenches  and  batteries  went  on 
but  slowly,  and  the  Turk.s,  jeering  at  their  enemies,  would  jisk  if 
their  artillery  was  in  pawn,  and  complain  that  they  were  growing  fat 
for  want  of  exercise.  A  message  presently  arrived  from  the  fort, 
that  "to  delight  the  Ladies,  who  did  long  to  sec  some  court-like 
pastime,  the  Lord  Tusbashaw  did  defie  any  captain  that  had  the  com- 
mand of  a  company  that  durst  coml>ate  with  him  for  his  Head." 
So  many  of  the  Christian  officers  were  eager  to  undertake  the  duel, 
that  the  matter  was  decided  by  lot,  and  the  peril  and  honour  <)f  the 
adventure  fell  to  our  young  friend  Smith.  At  a  given  signal,  the 
adversaries,  in  full  view  of  both  armies — "the  Rarnpiers  all  beset 
witli  faire  Dames" — tilted  against  each  other  with  equal  courage 


40 


AMEltICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


and  fury,  but  with  better  advantage  to  the  Christian,  who  ran  hiii 
enemy  through  hehnet  and  brain,  and  nimbly  alighting,  cut  off  hia 
head,  wtiich  he  presented  to  the  Prince  General. 

One  Grualgro,  "  tlie  vowed  friend  "  of  the  fallen  chief,  resolved  to 
avenge  his  fall  or  share  his  fate;  and  a  second  encounter,  the  next 
day,  came  off,  with  equal  success  to  Smith,  who  unhorsed  his  enemy 
and  speedily  possessed  himself  of  his  head.     Unsatisfied  with  h\s 
unusual  good  fortune  and  renown,  the  young  champion,  in  turn, 
pent  a  courteous  message  that  the  ladies  might  have  tlie  heads  of 
their  two  servants,  and  his  own  besides,  if  any  Turk  of  proper 
degree  would  come  and  take  them.     This  audacious  challenge,  ac- 
cepted by  one  Bonny  Mulgro^  had  nearly  proved  the  death  of  our 
hero,  who,  by  a  blow  of  his  opponent's  battle-axe,  lost  his  own  and 
was  nearly  unhorsed.      The  Turks  set  up  a.  tremendous  shout  of 
applause  from  the  ramparts,  yet  Smith,  to  use  his  own  language, 
"what  by  the  rcadinesse  of  his  horse,  and  his  judgment  and  dexter- 
itie  in  such  a  businesse,  bcj'ond  all  men's  expectation,  by  God's 
assistance,  not  onely  avoided  the  Turkts  violence,  but  having  drawne 
his  Faulcheon,  pierced  the  Turke  so  under  the  Culets,  thorow  backe 
and  body,  that,  although  he  alighted  from  his  horse,  hee  stood  not 
long  ere  hee  lost  his  head,  as  the  rest  had  done."     Great  rejoicing 
took  place  in  the  Christian  army,  and  Smith  was  complimented  and 
exalted  to  the  skies.     The  town,  after  a  desperate  doi'ence,  was  taken 
b}'  storm,  and  the  Turks  entrenched  themselves  in  the  castle,     "The 
Earle,  remembering  his  father's  death,  battered  it  with  all  the  ord- 
nance in  the  towne,  and  the  next  day  took  it;  all  be  found  could 
bear  Armes  he  put  to  the  sword,  and  set  their  heads  upon  stakes 
round  about  the  walls,  as  they  had  used  the  Christians  when  they 
tooke  it."     This  was  certainly  rather  an  indifferent  school  f(jr  the 
cultivation  of  humanity  or  refinement;  yet  Smith  seems  never  to 
have  become  infected  with  the  cruelty  of  the  age,  or  to  liave  en- 
gaged in  these  sanguinary  scenes  with  any  motive  beyond  tiiat  of 
the  renown  to  be  acquired  by  gallant  deeds  of  arms,  and  the  idea,  in 
his  diiv  not  altogether  groundless,  that  a  blow  struck  in  l;ehalf  of 
Christendom   against   the   invading  ranks  of  the   iufidcls,   was  a 
meritorious  work. 

Sigismund  of  Transylvania,  on  repairing  to  the  army,  was  .so 
pleased  with  this  last  exploit  of  the  young  soldier,  that  "with  great 
honour  he  gave  him  three  Turhs'  Heads  in  a  Shield  for  his  Arines. 
In"  patent  nii'ler  liis  hand  and  scale,  with  an  oathe  ever  to  weare 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF   VIKGIMA. 


41 


-1? 


them  in  his  Colours,  his  picture  in  Gould,  and  three  hundred  Ducats 
yeerely  for  a  pension."  This  patent  was  afterwards  admitted  and 
recorded  in  the  Herald's  College  of  England. 

Fortune  finally  turned  against  the  Christians,  whose  army,  in  the 
terrible  battle  of  liotenton,  overwhelmed  by  superior  numbers,  was 
almost  entirely  cut  to  pieces.  "In  this  bloudy  field,"  says  our  author, 
"neere  80,000  lay,  some  headlesse,  armeles.se,  and  legles.se,  all  cut 
and  mangled;  where  breathing  their  last,  they  gave  this  knowledge 
to  tlie  world,  that  for  the  lives  of  so  few,  the  Cnjm-Tariar  never  jiaid 
denrer."  Among  the  victims  were  a  number  of  adventurous  Eng- 
lishmen, fighting  for  renown,  who  all  "did  what  men  could  doe, 
and  when  they  could  do  no  more,  left;  there  their  bodies  in  tcstinionie 
of  their  mindes.  *  *  *  But  Smith"  (continues  that 
gentleman)  "among  the  slaughtered  dead  bodies  and  many  a. gasp- 
ing soule,  with  toile  and  wounds  lay  groaning  among  the  rest." 

Captured  and  cured  of  his  wounds,  he  was  sold  with  many  more 
as  a  slave  at  Axapolis;  and  his  purchaser,  a  certain  Bashaw  Bogall, 
sent  him  on  to  Constantinople  as  a  present  to  his  young  mistress, 
with  the  assurance  that  he  was  a  Bohemian  lord,  the  trophy  of  his 
personal  prowess.  The  lady,  like  most  whom  the  gallant  ca[)tain 
encountered,  at  once  experienced  a  tender  interest  for  his  welfare; 
and  fearing  lest  he  she  aid  be  sold  out  of  the  family,  dispatched  him, 
with  a  letter  of  recommendation,  to  her  brother,  the  Bashaw  of 
Nalbritz,  in  Tartary,  near  the  sea  of  Azof.  This  kindly  manoeuvre, 
however,  served  him  nothing;  for  the  ferocious  Turk,  apprehending 
the  true  state  of  the  case,  took  all  imaginable  pains  in  persecuting 
him.  With  his  head  and  beard  shaved  "so  bare  as  his  hand,"  a 
great  iron  ring  rivetted  about  his  neck,  and  a  rough  garment  of  hair 
and  hide,  the  unfortunate  Smith  underwent  a  slavery,  "so  bad,  a 
dog  could  hardly  have  lived  to  endure,"  and  was  finally  made 
thresher  at  a  lonely  grange  of  his  master,  more  than  a  league  from 
the  house.  The  result,  in  his  own  brief  language,  was,  that  "the 
Bashaw,  as  he  used  often  to  visit  his  granges,  visited  him,  and  took 
occasion  so  to  beat,  spurne,  and  revile  him,  that,  forgetting  all  reason, 
he  beat  out  the  Tymour^s  braines  with  his  threshing-bat,  for  they 
have  no  flailes;  and  seeing  his  estate  could  be  no  worse  than  it  waa, 
clothed  himself  in  his  clothes,  hid  his  body  under  the  straw,  filled  hia 
knapsacko  with  corne,  mounted  his  horse,  and  ranne  into  the  desart 
at  a'l  adventure."  For  some  da;ys  he  wandeied  in  the  wilderness, 
but  finally,  lighting  upon  the  high  road  from  Tartary  to  Kuasia, 


42 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


made  his  way,  after,  a  journey  of  sixteen  days,  to  Ecopolis,  a  Russian 
post  on  the  Don.  Here  he  was  kindly  received,  and  on  his  return 
to  Transylvania,  "glutted  with  content  and  neere  drowned  with  joy," 
great  rejoicing  took  place  at  his  escape  and  the  manner  of  it,  both 
so  characteristic  of  his  temper.  At  Prague,  whither  he  repaired, 
Sigisrnund  presented  him  with  fifteen  hundred  ducats,  equipped  with 
which  he  travelled  through  Germany,  France,  and  Spain,  viewing 
notable  places  and  adding  to  his  extensive  information.  In  a  French 
ship  he  sailed  to  Africa,  meaning  to  take  part  in  the  civil  wars  in 
Morocco;  "but  by  reason  of  the  uncertaintie,  and  the  perfidious, 
treacherous,  bloudy  murthers  rather  than  warre,  among  those  per- 
fidious, barbarous  Jibores,"  changed  his  purpose.  Passing  an  evening 
aboard  the  ship,  a  gale  of  wind  compelled  her  to  run  to  sea,  and  the 
captain's  taste  for  adventure  was  presently  gratified  by  "a  brave  sea- 
nght,"  lasting  for  two  days,  with  a  couple  of  Spanish  men-of-war. 
They  were  finally  beaten  off",  with  a  loss,  it  was  supposed,  of  a  hun- 
dred men.  In  an  action  so  desperate,  the  services  of  Smith,  it  may 
well  be  supposed,  were  not  without  an  opportunity  for  their  /ull 
appreciation.     Not  long  after  (160-i)  he  returned  to  England. 


FIRGINIAN  COLONIZATION  REVITED. — PATENT  OP  JAMES  I. — ILL- 
ASSORTED  COMPANY  OF  SETTLERS. — THE  EXPEDITION  SAILS  FOR 

AMERICA. — ACCIDENTALLY    ENTERS   JAMES   RIVER. ILL 

TREATMENT  OF  SMITH. — INTERCOURSE  WITH  THE  INDIANS. 

—  JAMESTOWN  FOUNDED. — EXCURSION   OP  SMITH   AND 

NEWPORT. — POWHATAN. — THE  INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  Smith,  he  became  acquainted  with  Captain 
Gosnold,  who;5e  voyage  has  already  been  mentioned;  and  the  scheme 
of  Virginian  colonization  was  again  revived.  Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges, 
Sir  John  Popham,  chief  justice  of  England,  and  other  persons  of 
rank  and  influence,  were  persuaded  to  take  an  interest  in  their  plan; 
ar.d  thus  in  April,  1606,  the  king  (James  I.)  was  induced  to  issue 
letters  patent  to  Sir  Thomas  Gates,  Sir  George  Somers  and  others, 
granting  them  all  the  territory  on  the  eastern  sea-board  of  North 


.% 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  VIRGINIA. 


43 


America,  between  tbirty-four  and  forty-five  degrees  north  latitude. 
Two  companies,  one  of  Londoners  and  the  other  of  gentlemen, 
&c.,  from  the  West  of  England,  were  formed,  the  first  to  colonize 
the  southern  and  the  latter  the  northern  portion  of  the  grant;  but 
with  a  strict  proviso,  dictated  by  the  foolish  jeahjusy  of  James,  that 
a  hundred  miles  of  wilderness  should  intervene  between  their  re- 
flpective  settlements.  As  the  first  of  these  only  succeeded  in  their 
design,  our  account  will  be  restricted  chiefly  to  their  operations. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  1606,  three  small  vessels,  commanded 
by  Captain  Christopher  Newport,  and  carrying  an  hundred  and  five 
colonists,  sailed  from  Blackwall  for  Virginia.  Forty-eight  of  this 
number  were  enrolled  as  gentlemen,  and  twelve  as  labourers — an 
ominous  proportion  for  the  prosperity  of  the  projected  settle- 
ment. Gosnold  and  Smith,  Edward  Wingfield,  a  merchant,  Qeorge 
Percy,  and  the  liev.  Robert  Hunt,  were  the  principal  persons  of  the 
expedition. 

Delayed  by  contrary  winds,  the  little  fleet,  bearing  the  germ  of  the 
American  commonwealth,  was  six  weelcs  in  sight  of  Englalid;  and 
when  it  finally  got  to  sea,  toolc  the  old  circuitous  route  of  the  Cana- 
ries and  West  Indies,  l^j  the  folly  of  James,  sealed  instructions, 
in  a  box  not  to  be  o[)ened  till  their  arrival,  had  been  provided,  nam- 
ing the  authorities  of  the  colony.  Dissension  thus  sprung  up  early 
in  the  voyage,  and  at  the  Canaries,  Smith,  accused,  by  the  absurd 
jealousy  of  some,  of  conspiring  to  make  himself  "king  of  Virginia," 
was  put  in  confinement.  They  steered  for  Roanoke,  but  by  a  piece 
of  excellent  disappointment,  were  carried  by  a  storm  past  the  place 
of  their  destination,  and  entered  Chesapeake  Bay.  Naming  the 
headlands  Cape  Henry  and  Cape  Charles,  in  honour  of  the  king's  sons, 
they  sailed  up  the  .James  River  about  forty  miles,  and  went  on  shore, 
delighted  with  all  they  saw.  "  We  pnssed  through  excellent  ground," 
says  one  of  them,  "full  of  flowers  of  divers  kinds  and  colours,  ;uul 
as  goodly  trees  as  I  have  seen,  as  cedar,  cypress,  and  other  kinds; 
going  a  little  further  we  came  to  a  little  plat  of  ground,  full  of  fine 
and  beautiful  strawberries,  four  times  bigger  and  better  than  ours 
of  England."  "Heaven  and  earth,"  says  the  enthusiastic  Smith, 
"seemed  never  to  have  agreed  better  to  frame  a  place  for  man's 
commodious  and  delightful  habitation." 

The  very  day  of  their  arrival,  the  settlers  perceived  certain  hostile 
savages,  "creeping  on  all  foures,  from  tiie  hils  like  Beares,"  but 
put  them  to  flight  by  a  discharge  of  muskets.    At  Point  Comfort, 


44 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


however,  and  other  places,  they  were  kindly  received  by  the  natives, 
who  gave  them  corn-bread,  pipes  and  tobacco,  and  held  a  dance  in 
honour  of  them.  The  chief  of  the  Kappahannas,  who,  with  a  con- 
siderable attendance,  came  to  meet  them,  "entertained  us,"  says  the 
journal,  "in  so  modest  a  proud  fashion,  as  though  he  had  been  a 
prince  of  civill  government,  holding  his  countenance  without  any 
laughter  or  any  such  ill  behaviour,  lie  caused  his  mat  to  be  spread 
on  the  ground,  where  he  sat  down  with  great  majesty,  taking  a  pipe 
of  tobacco,  tlie  rest  of  his  company  standing  around  him." 

Having  made  considerable  survey  of  the  shoi^  of  the  river,  the 
little  colonv  of  Englishmen  chose  for  the  site  of  their  settlement  a 
peninsula  on  the  northern  bank,  and  called  it  Jamestown,  in  honour 
of  the  sovereign.  It  was  now  an  hundred  and  nine  3'ears  since 
Cibot,  sailing  by  these  shores,  had  conferred  on  England  the  con- 
ventional right  to  so  great  a  part  of  the  North  American  continent; 
yet  this  was  the  first  successful  attempt  of  that  nation  to  plant  a 
colony  in  the  Western  Hemisphere.  Tliat  it  did  not  speedily  share 
the  fate  of  its  predecessors,  is  almost  entirely  due  to  the  admirable 
courage,  sa'^acity,  and  patience  of  a  man  greatly  wronged  and  abused, 
in  its  very  inception. 

On  opening  the  scaled  box,  it  was  found  that  a  council  of  seven, 
including  Wingfield,  Gosnold,  Newport,  and  Smith,  were  appointed 
to  govern  the  colony;  but  the  last,  the  only  reli.nble  man  of  the 
wliole  company,  by  the  paltry  jealousy  of  his  a.«<sociatcs,  was  set 
aside;  "the  Counceli  was  sworne,  Mr.  Wingfield  was  chosen  Presi- 
dent, and  an  Oration  made,  why  Ciiptaine  Smith  was  not  admitted 
of  the  Counceli  as  the  rest."  His  zeal  for  the  promotion  of  the 
scheme  unquenched  by  this  unworthy  treatment,  the  excluded  coun- 
cillor set  forth  with  Newport  on  an  expedition  of  further  surxey. 

In  the  course  of  this  voyage,  much  was  learned  concerning  the 
Indians  of  the  adjoining  regions.  Of  forty-tiiree  native  triljcs,  dwell- 
inir  lx?twcen  the  mountains  and  tlie  sea,  about  thirty,  numbering,  it 
is  said,  eight  thnnsaiid  souls,  were  under  the  rule  of  a  |>owerful  chief- 
lain,  named  Wahunsonacock,  but  whose  customary  title,  derived, 
like  that  of  a  Eurojx'an  grandee,  from  his  principal  residence,  was 
Powhatan.  The  names  of 'i'uscaloosa,  Quigaltampii,  and  those  of 
many  other  native  American  chiefs,  identical  with  their  towns  or 
prmcii>aiitics,  indicate  the  prevalence  of  the  usage.  Uis  r^idenoe 
of  I'owhatan  was  at  the  Falls  of  James  River,  at  the  site  of  Rich- 
mond, and  that  of  Werowocomoco  on  tlin  north  side  of  York  River. 


THE   SETTLKMi-.NT    OF    VIROINIA. 


45 


Ascending  the  first  named  stream,  after  a  voyage  of  six  days,  the 
exploiers  came  to  the  fulls,  where  they  were  courteously  i-eceived 
by  the  great  chief  just  mentioned — "of  personage,"  says  Smith,  "a 
tall,  well  proportioned  man,  with  a  sower  looke,  his  head  some  what 
gray,  his  beard  so  thinne  it  seemcth  none  at  all,  his  age  neero  sixtie; 
of  a  very  able  and  hardy  body  to  endure  any  labor.  *  *  *  It 
is  strange,"  he  presently  proceeds,  "to  see  with  what  great  fcaro  and 
adoration  all  these  people  doe  obey  this  Powhatan.  For  at  his  fectc 
the}'  present  whatsoever  he  commandeth,  and  at  the  least  frowne  of 
his  brow,  their  greatest  spirits  will  tremble  with  feare;  and  no  mar- 
veil,  for  he  is  very  tyrannous  and  terrible  in  punishing  such  as 
oft'ciul  him.  *  *  Yet  when  he  listeth,  his  will  is  a  law  and  must 
be  obeyed ;  not  onely  as  a  king,  but  halfe  as  a  God  they  esteeme  him." 

The  Indians  of  Virginia,  dwelling  in  a  milder  clime,  and  on  a 
more  fertile  soil,  seem  to  have  po.ssessed  more  of  the  comforts  of  life 
than  those  of  New  England.  They  lived  by  the  chase,  by  fishing, 
and,  to  a  considerable  extent,  by  plantation.  Tlicir  clothing  was  of 
furs,  but  they  were  ver}-  hardy  and  able  to  endure  cold.  Their 
children,  from  infancy,  they  used  to  wash  in  the  rivers,  "and  by 
paintings  and  ointments  so  tanne  their  .skinncs,  that  after  a  ycare  or 
two  no  weather  will  hurte  them."  The  customary  passion  of  sav- 
ngcs  for  personal  picturing,  scem.s,  indeed,  to  have  had  full  sway, 
the  favourite  colour  being  red.  "Many  other  formes  of  painting 
they  iise,  but  he  is  the  most  gallant  that  is  the  most  monstrous 
to  behold." 

They  were  a  warlike  people,  and  were  often  engaged  in  feud  with 
their  neighl)our3.  Smith  gives  a  curious  account  of  a  great  sham- 
llglit,  which  I^owhatan's  warriors,  at  Mattapanitmt,  once  performed 
Ibr  his  diversion.  Two  parties,  each  of  a  hundred,  approached  each 
other  in  warlike  array,  *'all  duly  keeping  their  orders,  yet  leaping 
and  singing  after  their  accustomed  tune,  which  they  only  vse  in 
Warres.  Vpon  the  first  flight  of  arrowcs,  they  gave  such  horrible 
shouts  and  sehreechcs,  as  so  ms'tiy  infernall  hell-hounds  could  not 
have  made  them  more  terrible.  When  they  had  spent  their  arrowcs, 
they  joyned  together  prettily,  charging  and  retiring,  every  ranke 
sceonding  the  other.  As  they  got  advantage,  they  catchcd  iheir 
onctnies  by  the  hayreof  the  head,  and  down  came  he  that  wjus  tak<'ii. 
IJis  enemy  with  his  wooden  sword  seemed  to  bente  out  his  braines, 
and  still  they  crept  to  the  rear  to  maintain  the  skirmish.  *  *  * 
All  their  actions,  voyces,  and  gestures,  lx>th  in  charging  and  retiring, 


46 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


' 


were  so  stnunccTto  the  lieight  of  their  qualitie  and  nature,  that  the 
strangeness  thereof  made  it  seeme  very  dehghtfull." 

Little  that  is  definite  seems  to  have  been  ascertained  concerning 
their  rehgious  belief — the  uncouth  ceremonies  of  the  Powwow,  and 
the  manifestations  of  a  savage  taste  being  directly  construed  into 
an  explicit  Satanism.  "Their  chief  God  they  worship,"  says  the 
3a[)tain,  "is  the  Devill.  Ilini  they  call  Okee,  and  serve  him  more  of 
feare  than  love.  They  say  they  have  conferrence  with  hiiu,  and 
fashion  themselves  as  neare  to  his  shape  as  the}'  can  imngine.  In 
their  Tenij>les  they  have  his  image  evill-favoredly  carved,  in  such 
manner  as  the  deformitie  may  well  suit  with  sueli  a  God.  *  * 
Upon  the  to[)  of  certain  red  sandy  liils  in  the  wooclcs,  there  are  three 
great  houses  filled  with  Images  of  their  Kinges  and  Devills,  and 
Tombes  of  their  j^redeccssors.  This  place  they  count  so  holy  as 
none  but  the  I'riests  and  Kings  dare  come  into  them."  Tlicir  reli- 
gious ceremonies  were  sufl'ieiently  fiintastic  and  barbarous.  Their 
chief  priest,  horrid  in  a  head-dress  of  the  skins  of  snakes  and  other 
roptili'S,  made  invocations  before  the  circle  of  worshippers  "with 
broken  sentence.-',  by  starts  and  strangi;  passions,  and  at  every  j)ause 
the  rest  give  a  short  groane" — probably  the  Indian  "ugh,"  denoting 
assent.  "And  in  this  lamentable  ignorance,"  he  continues,  "doe 
these  poore  Soules  sacrifice  themselves  to  the  Devill,  not  knowing 
their  Creator;  and  we  had  not  language  suflieient,  so  j)lainly  to  ex- 
press it  as  to  make  them  understand  it,  which  God  grant  tliey  may." 


uXXiZjujrXiJuiri    ixi* 


TRIAI.   AND   VINDICATION  0?  SMITH.  —  FAMINE   AND   TEUUIIII, 
MOHTAI.ITY.  —  SMITH,    11  Y    IMS    KXKUTIONS,   SUI'POUTS   T  II  8 
COLONY. — TUEACHEUY    OP    II I  3   ASSOCIATES.  —  DEAI.IXOS 
WITH  THE  IX1I1AN.S  — IIH.E  AND  MISEllAllLE  COLONISTS. 


Wllir.K  the  party  of  survey  wa.s  ab.^^ent,  an  attack  liad  b'-en  made 
by  the  Indians  on  the  colonists,  one  of  whom  wa.s  killed,  and  many 
others  were  wounded,  and  Jamestown  was  therefore  fortified  with 
palisades  aJid  artillery.  Captain  Smith,  on  his  return,  to  silence  the 
Blandcra  of  his  cnemi  s,  demanded  a  jiublic  trial;  in  wliicli  liis  inno- 


"e,  that  the 


concern  iiie 
>v\vo\\',  and 
>trucd  into 
"  says  the 
m  more  of 
I  liini,  and 
.t<,n'ne.     In 
:d,  in  such 
1.     *     * 
3  are  three 
n-ills,  and 
>o  lioly  as 
I'heir  rcli- 
is.     Their 
and  other 
ers  "with 
^ery  j)ause 
'  denoting 
lies,  "doe 
knowing 
ily  to  ex- 
icy  niay." 


K  I!  It  I II  f, 

rs  Tim 

,  I  N  0  s 
ST  8. 


[•n 

m.'ide 

id 

many 

cd 

with 

I'tlCC  tlic 

MS 

miio* 

* 


t 


IP 


h 


^1 


>— • 


I 


k 


46 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


aauK'',  tinil'  i;i-. 


LU 


-  •  .,  •;«.    -v.,  rt^mi^  of  tKrt  Fo-.vwow,  ci 
■   ,.■  au-.v'  l..•iK^'  direotly  constnied  into 
I  r   .1    ..  >t  la  they  vror  '.np,'   sayn  ti.v 
.;:..'  lii-v'v  o...  tJMa»iv*'id.»irve  lii'ii  ^  .re  ■  ^ 

■  ■:>,-     ..  vUJ'^fc-arfih  "^^      id,  in  81-..  1. 

.  -fit  (!v   .U  u\  the  woodfts,  ♦'(■(,«  are  thi'  t 

>    i.:.,»-\3  <:!  t.jeir  Kingea  ami  Devi  )s,  :i    i 

^>».-Mif-    'rill*  jtlace  they  fount  bo  lioly     i 

'>Jr>^  Hj«'---  cor»^  i'ito  tiiem."     Their  rt  i- 

,.i*»«  j<Vy    .1.- t.istiij-  ui'.il  bnih»rous.     "I'lx  ' - 

•  i'   ■     ivjv  w  vJ''''!''  <>i"  vorshippt- r<  "wi  ■, 

;*..  V     i-J    •  •  :,^  iiiwtfi  I'-",  :nd  at  I'verv  j  au-c 

-Ci^wE     ,-.  .  ,.:.^?  «•.»•  jiki'an  "' jl',"  •'■  .I'iiL' 

.   t<»*rf   a*u'.-nrfll^'K'  'ji»i>y4(B0^.'!  ill'   C'ui-!,!-.-v,.-         !(,:• 


- 1 


j.Klr.f^    ,1  . 


iO  :  ^uk«  ibe?  i  u?  kr^tAnd  ir,  vrUi^i*  *•    i  ^  ■'^''  ''**>) 


u-W 


till   III  '»<»  ^>0<M«I 


'  I    «1    j~      t^    #     a7    «>       4    X    <^  • 


.  A'.'Tt  — s«!?i;.  ".T  r.iB  i  J.  ?  4.T»'.>3,  »vrr     .stub 

■  ;  Tii,  fS.    \s*,  — i"         '  vi/ irSIRAULS  COLONISTS 


4'U  vdM..^cf<-'r<>ft'  **''         '  will 


t  ■     i  ■  ^ 
II     c    ri;i, 


uo- 


K;it  \:». 


;\'vV'o\v,  i'liil 
^tnied  into 
says  ii.c 
nx  :  >re 
1  luta,  a';il 
sgiiie.  ill 
til,  in  sf.  1 

I   r  ^ 

9  are  ihi'  < 
5vi.it!,  ;\  ! 
K)  \\o)y  .i 
Tlicir  rt  1- 
W.  'I'l).  ' 
ruJ  <:.l1i..  I 
ers  "\vi". 
irerv  ;  ;iuc 

'wild' 


1{R 


1  >i 


.'UIJ, 

witi. 


'^m 


THE   SETTLKAIKNT    OF    VIRGINIA. 


47 


eence  and  the  malice  of  liis  detractors  was  so  apparent,  that  he  waa 
restored  to  his  seat  in  the  Council,  and  Wingfield  was  adjiuigasi  to 
pay  him  damages  in  goods  to  the  value  of  two  hundred  poir.^la, 
which,  however,  Smith  put  into  the  store-house,  for  the  pub.. ,  .-■■:. 

On  the  loth  of  June,  Newport,  with  the  vessels,  returned  to>  Erog- 
land,  Ilis  departure  was  the  signal  for  immediate  distress  aad 
privation.  The  company,  with  Avretched  improvidence,  had  me;;- 
Iccted  to  supply  suflicient  stores  for  a  colony  just  lanrleii  ui  tlie 
wilderness,  and  even  during  the  stay  of  the  fleet,  many  of  the  ramfor- 
tnnate  settleis  had  been  reduced  for  support  to  biscuits  pilfertii  l*j 
the  sailors  from  the  ship-stores,  and  sparingly  dealt  out  to  the  h  .  '-irrj 
applicants  "for  saxefras,  furres,  or  1.  ^^e,'*  ..  regular  famine  al  rt>-i« 
set  in,  a  daily  pint  of  vheat  or  bri..  ^ ,  all  ve  with  insect?,  l*.  ^ 
the  only  allowance.  "Had  we  been  as  free,"  says  one  of  lEncsm, 
"from  all  sinnes  as  gluttony  and  drunkenness,  we  might  have  teen 
canonized  as  saints;  but  our  President  would  never  have  beexn  awl- 
mitted,  for  ingrossing  to  his  ])rivate,  Oatemcalc,  Sacke,  Oyle,  Aqwiriia^ 
Beefe,  Egges,  and  what  not  but  the  Kettell.  *  *  Oar  drimfee 
was  water,  our  lodgingcs  Castles  in  the  Ayre." 

During  the  summer,  fifty  of  the  company,  of  whom  Gosnolel  was 
one,  bad  died  from  the  diseases  incident  to  a  change  of  climate  zsA 
agcrravated  by  privation  and  exposure.  Wingtield,  with  a  cowai»lIj 
and  treacherous  policy,  attempted  to  seize  the  pinnace  and  di£»<M 
the  settlement,  "which,"  proceeds  the  old  narrator,  "so  movetl  oiar 
dead  Spirits  as  we  deposed  him."  When  this  famine  and  A'MV'^ss 
was  at  its  height,  the  neighbouring  Indians,  who  heretot'jre  kad 
refused  to  impart  their  store,  suddenly  changing  their  re.solatkiin, 
brought  abundant  supplies  of  fruits  and  provision — a  seasoiniable 
relief,  ascribed  by  the  colonists  to  the  direct  interposition  of  Gi-xL 

The  council  was  now  reduced  to  three,  consisting  of  llatoIifTe,  ihs 
nominal  president,  ^[artin,  and  Smith;  but  the  two  first,  '"of  weake 
judgment  in  dangers  and  lesse  industry  in  peace,"  shifted  the  tuu^ 
management  and  care  of  the  colony  on  the  shoulders  of  their  itmdj 
a.«sociatc.  Those  shoulders  were  amply  strong  enough  to  bear  it. 
With  the  greatest  diligence,  he  set  to  work  to  supply  the  wan.15  of 
the  settlers,  anU  to  provide  them  with  shelter  against  the  wirtter. 
"By  his  owne  example,  good  word.-^,  and  fuire  promises,  he  .-■  *  -o-.'je 
to  mow,  others  to  binde  thatch,  some  to  buihl  houses,  o:..-:.-.  ut 
thatch,  alwayes  bearing  the  greatest  taske  for  his  owne  shancv  •» 
that,  in  short  time,  he  provided  most  of  them  lodgings,  neglecting  anjf 
Vol.  IV.- 32 


48 


AMERICA  ILLUSTEAJED. 


for  himselfe.^^  This  labour  accomplished,  and  the  people  beginning 
to  suffer  again  from  want  of  food,  he  set  forth  in  a  boat,  with  five 
or  six  others,  to  gain  supplies  by  traffic  with  the  more  distant  In- 
dians. The  latter,  however,  with  rude  inhospitaiity,  "scorned  him," 
he  says,  "as  a  famished  man,  and  would  in  derision  offer  him  a 
handfull  of  come,  a  peece  of  bread,  for  their  swords  and  muskets, 
and  such  like  proportions  also  for  their  apparell."  These  uncivil 
taunts  brought  on  hostilities,  and  the  captain,  in  a  skirmish,  got 
possession  of  their  Ohee  or  god,  to  ransom  which,  they  were  fain  tc 
load  the  English  boat  with  plenty  of  corn,  turkeys,  and  venison. 
Smith,  in  return,  gave  t'lem  beads,  copper,  and  hatchets,  and  a 
friendship  was  struck  up  with  that  curious  suddenness  which  seema 
alike  to  distinguish  savage  enmity  or  amity. 

In  spito  of  Smith's  unwearied  exertions,  to  supply  the  settlers 
with  food,  we  are  told,  "yet  what  he  carefully  provided,  the  rest 
carelesly  spent.  *  *  »  i>he  Spaniard  never  more 
greedily  desired  gold  than  he  victuall,  nor  his  Souldiers  more  to 
abandon  the  country  than  he  to  keepe  it."  Of  tl^o  ill-assorted  com- 
pany, he  says,  there  were  "many  meerely  projecting,  verball  and 
idle  contemplators,  and  those  so  devoted  to  pure  idlenesse,  that 
though  they  had  lived  in  Virginia  two  or  three  years,  lordly,  neces- 
sitie  itselfe  could  not  compell  them  to  passe  the  Peninsula  or  the 
Paiisadocs  of /ames  Towne.  *  *  Our  ingenious  Verbalists 
were  no  lesse  plague  to  us  in  Virginia  than  the  Locusts  to  the  Egyp- 
tians." Because  they  did  not  find  Taverns  and  Alehouses  at  every 
,turn,  he  says,  nor  feather  beds  and  down  pillows,  they  thought  of 
noticing  but  present  comfort  and  speedy  return.  Wingfield  and 
others  seized  the  pinnace,  and  would  have  fled  to  England,  but 
Smith  by  force  of  arms  compelled  them  to  remain,  and  one  of  the 
r^contsnts  was  killed  iu  tlie  attempt. 


, 


THE   SETTLEMENT   OF   \IRGIMA.  49 


CHAPTER   I  Y  • 

8XPEDITION  AND  CAPTURE  OP  SMITH:    HIS  STRAXGB  ADTENTUEEi? 
AMONG  THE  INDIANS. —  CONJIJRATIOSS  PERFORMED  OYER  HIM. 

HE   IS   CARRIED   TO   POWHATAN. HIS   LIFE   SAVED   BY 

POCAHONTAS — STRANGE  MASQUERADE  OF  POWHATAN. 
—  RELEASE  AND    RETURN   OF   SMITH. 

Proceeding  up  the  Chickahominy,  Captain  Smith  at  last  procured 
by  traffic  such  abundant  supplies  of  provision,  that  the  empty  stom- 
achs of  the  mutineers  no  longer  cried  out  for  return  to  England. 
In  another  expedition,  in  the  same  direction,  he  experienced  that 
memorable  adventure,  the  rival  of  romance  and  the  brightest  orna- 
ment of  American  colonial  history. 

Having  left  his  canoe,  with  two  companions,  on  the  bank  of  a 
stream,  he  struck  off  twenty  miles  further  into  the  \\'ilderness  to 
reach  its  head  waters.  The  crew  of  his  barge,  which  he  had  left 
further  down  the  river,  were  attacked  by  a  great  body  of  warriors, 
under  Opechancanough,  king  of  Pamunkcy,  the  brother  of  Powhatan. 
Only  one  of  them,  however,  was  captured,  who,  after  having  been 
compelled  to  inform  the  savages  of  the  route  taken  by  Captain  Smith, 
was  barbarously  put  to  death.  His  two  companions,  sleeping  by 
their  canoe,  were  the  next  victims,  and  finally  the  whole  force,  two 
hundred  strong,  came  up  with  Smith  himself  Binding  his  guide 
before  him,  as  a  shield  against  their  arrows,  the  captain  fought  with 
equal  coolness  and  desperation.  He  killed  three  of  the  enemy  and 
wounded  many  more;  but  finally,  getting  fast  in  a  morass,  became 
80  benumbed  vnth  cold,  that,  rather  than  freeze,  he  threw  away  his 
deadly  weapons,  and  yielded  himself  prisoner. 

The  Indians  drew  him  out,  and  chafed  his  benumbed  limbs  before 
a  fire.  His  presence  of  mind  unfailing,  he  pulled  forth  a  little 
compass,  set  in  ivory,  which  he  gave  the  chief.  "At  the  sight  of 
this  strange  little  engine,  with  its  trembling  vibrations,  apparently 
instinct  with  life,  the  wonder  of  his  captors  knew  no  bounds;  and 
Smith,  taking  advantage  of  their  interest,  began  forthwith  to  encham 
with  philosophy  the  attention  of  his  savage  auditors."  To  use  his 
own  words,  "  when  he  demonstrated  by  that  Globe-like  lewell,  the 
rounduesse  of  the  earth  and  skies,  the  spheare  of  the  Sunne, 


50 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


Moone,  and  Starrcs,  and  liow  the  Sunne  did  chase  the  night  round 
about  the  world  continually;  the  greatnesse  of  the  Sea  and  Land, 
the  diversitie  of  ^Nations,  varietie  of  complexions,  and  how  we  were 
to  them  Antipodes,  and  many  such-like  matters,  they  stood  as  all 
amazed  with  admiration." 

Having  tried  his  nerve  by  tying  him  to  a  tree,  and  all  making 
ready  to  shoot  at  him,  they  led  him  in  triumph  to  Orapaks,  a  town 
a  few  miles  from  Powhatan,  where  a  hideous  war-dance  was  per- 
formed about  him,  and  where,  from  the  overweening  hospitality  of 
his  hosts,  he  began  to  fear  that  he  was  to  be  fattened  for  sacrifice. 
Fully  appreciating  his  valour,  they  made  him  great  offers  if  he  would 
assist  them  in  an  intended  attack  on  Jamestown ;  but  Smith,  having 
written  a  note  to  his  friends,  warning  them  of  the  danger,  and  de- 
si  rinf;  certain  articles,  persuaded  the  Indians  to  take  it  thither,  and 
leave  it  in  sight  of  tlie  colonists.  To  their  utter  am:izement,  they 
found  in  the  same  spot,  on  the  following  day,  the  very  articles  that 
Smith  had  promised  them,  and  all,  in  wonder,  concluded,  "that 
either  he  coulde  divine  or  the  paper  conld  speake." 

He  was  next  taken  to  Pamunkey,  where  such  strange  and  fantas- 
tical conjurations  were  enacted  over  him,  that  he  felt,  he  says,  as  if 
translated  to  the  infernal  regions.  This  mystical  ceremony  lasted 
for  three  days;  after  which,  the  tribe  entertained  him  with  much 
kindness  They  had  procured  a  bag  of  gunpowder,  which  they 
were  carefully  keeping  to  plant  the  next  spring,  supposing  it  to  be 
a  species  of  seed.  At  last  he  was  taken  to  Werowocomoco,  where 
Powhatan,  "with  more  than  two  hundred  of  his  grim  courtiers, 
dressed  in  their  greatest  braveries,"  was  awaiting  him.  As  he 
entered,  the  whole  court  rose,  in  respect  for  their  valiant  captive, 
and  gave  a  great  shout.  He  was  served  in  the  most  honourable  man- 
ner, the  Indian  queen  of  Appamatuck  waiting  on  mm  in  person. 
Wiiat  followed  cannot  be  better  given  than  in  his  own  language  or 
that  of  some  one  who  heard  it  from  his  own  lips.  "  Having  feasted 
him  in  tlie  best  barbarous  manner  they  could,  a  long  consultation 
was  held;  but  the  conclusion  was,  two  great  stones  were  brought 
before  Puwhatan;  then  as  many  as  could  layd  hands  on  him,  dragged 
him  to  them,  aiid  thereon  layd  his  head,  and  being  ready  with  their 
clubs  to  beato  out  hisbraines,  PucahonUts^  the  King's  dearest  daughter, 
when  no  intreaty  could  prevaile,  got  his  head  in  her  arms,  and  layd 
her  owne  upon  his  to  save  Vlim  from  death;  whereat  the  E^iperour 
was  contented  he  should  live." 


' 


THE  SETTLEMENT   OF   VIRGINIA. 


51 


"In  all  history  there  is  no  incident  more  dramatic  and  touching. 
After  the  lapse  of  more  than  two  centuries,  familiarized,  but  unhack- 
neyed by  repetition,  it  still  remains  the  most  charming  and  pic- 
turesque scene  in  the  whole  range  of  American  annals.     Its  heroine, 
'the  darling  of  history'   (then   only  a  child  of  ten)  still   warmly 
lives  ill  the  love  and  remembrance  of  a  whole  people,  and  stands, 
the  redeeming  spirit  of  her  race  to  hallow  it  with  a  kinder  memory 
than  that  of  warfare  and  revenge."     Tiiis  memorable  transaction, 
moreover,  is  of  great  interest  as  one  of  those  comparatively  rare 
incidents  where  the  feelings  and  passions  bring  about  an  event  of  high 
historical  importance.     Certainly  this  was  such,  for  the  entire  weight 
of  the  colony,  lor  a  long  time  afterwards,  rested  on  the  brave  heart, 
the  sagacious  head,  and  the  manly  arm  of  S'uith.     Had  he  been 
removed,  especially  in  this  critical  juncture,  the  .settlers,  without 
doubt,  would  immediately  have  abandoned  the  idea  of  preserving  the 
colony,  and  have  made  their  way  homeward  with  all  practicable  speed. 

The  generosity  of  the  chief  did  not  stop  halfway.  The  release 
of  his  cnptive  was  resolved  on,  and  was  communicated  in  a  fashion 
characteristic  enough.  "Two  dayes  after,"'  the  captain  tells  us, 
^^ Powhatan  having  disguised  himself  iu  the  most  fearefuUest  manner 
he  could,  caused  Capt.  iSnu'lh  to  be  brought  forth  to  a  great  house  in 
the  woodes,  and  tliere  upon  a  mat  by  the  fire  to  be  left  alone" 
(another  experiment  on  his  nerves).  "Not  long  after  from  behinde 
a  mat  that  divided  the  house,  was  made  the  most  dolefullest  noyso 
he  ever  heard;  then  Powhatan^  more  like  a  devill  than  a  man,  with 
some  two  luindred  more  as  blacke  as  himself,  came  unto  him  and 
told  him  now  they  were  friends,  and  presently  he  should  goe  to 
lames  Towne,  to  send  him  two  great  gunnes  and  a  gryndstone,  for 
which  he  would  give  him  the  country  of  Capahowosick.  and  forever 
esteeme  him  as  his  son  Nanfaquoiid."  In  a  memorial,  many  years 
afterwards  addressed  to  the  queen  in  behalf  of  Pocahonta.s,  Smith, 
recapitulating  the  kindnesses  which  he  had  received  from  the  House 
of  Powhatan,  especially  commemorates  that  of  this  son,  whom  he 
describes  as  "the  most  manliest,  coincliest,  boldest  spirit  I  ever  saw 
iu  a  Salvage."  Accordingly  he  was  dispatched  to  tlie  settlement  with 
an  escort  of  twelve  guides,  and  was  received  with,  great  rejoicing; 
but  the  messengers,  finding  two  cannons  and  a  millstone  "somewhat 
too  heavy,"  were  fain  to  return  with  presents  better  fitted  for  their 
transportation. 


52 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


=n 


uXJitblxXiUiti      /• 


PRIVATIONS  OF    THE    COLONISTS. — RELIEVED    BY   rOCAHOH- 
TAS.  —  ARRIVAL    OF    NEWPORT    FROM     ENGLAND. — INTER- 
COURSE  AND   TRAFFIC   WITH    POWHATAN.  —  BLUE   BEADS 

FOR     CROWN     JEWELS. — IMAGINARY     GOLD     MINE. 

SMITH'S    VOYAGE     IN     THE     CHESAPEAKE. INTER- 
VIEWS WITH  NUMEROUS  NATIVE  TRIBES. STING- 
RAY POINT. — HIS  RETURN. 


i  • 


'^! 


During  the  six  weeks'  captivity  of  Smith,  the  miserable  little  rem- 
nant of  the  colony,  by  quarrels  and  improvidence,  was  all  in  confu- 
sion, and  he  was  again  compelled  to  use  force  to  keep  a  number 
from  deserting  in  the  pinnace.  The  malcontents  next  hatched  up  a 
ridiculous  scheme  for  his  execution  on  account  of  the  loss  of  his 
companions,  saying  that,  by  the  Levitical  law,  he  was  responsible  for 
their  lives:  "but  he  quickly  tooke  such  order  with  such  Lawyers 
that  he  layd  them  by  the  heels,"  {i.  e.  in  prison)  "till  he  sent  some 
of  them  prisoners  for  England."  The  colony,  indeed,  would  have 
perished  of  hunger,  but  for  the  generosity  of  Pocahontas,  (and  per- 
haps Powhatan,)  who  with  her  attendants  carried  food  to  Jamestown 
every  four  or  five  days.  Through  her  influence  many  other  Indians 
brought  provision  as  presents,  or,  if  they  sold  it,  made  the  captain  fix 
his  own  price,  "so  had  he  inchanted  these  poore  soules,  being  their 
prisoner." 

Of  two  ships,  dispatched  by  the  company,  with  a  reinforcement  of 
a  hundrcJ  men,  to  Virginia,  one  only  under  Newport  reached  her 
destination,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1607.  A  brisk  traffic  was 
now  carried  on  with  the  Indians;  and  at  the  request  of  Powhatan, 
Smith  and  Newport  made  him  a  visit.  "Witli  many  pretty  dis- 
courses to  renew  their  old  acquaintance,"  says  the  original  narrative, 
"this  great  King  and  our  Captaine  passed  their  time.  *  * 

Three  or  foure  days  more  we  spent  in  feasting,  dauncing,  and  trading, 
wherein  Powliatan  carried  himself  so  proudly,  yet  discreetly,  (in  his 
salvage  manner)  as  made  us  all  admire  his  naturall  gifts."  NcNvport, 
however,  proved  no  match  for  him  at  a  bargain,  and  the  coloni.sts 
would  have  received  but  a  pitiful  suj){)ly  of  provision  for  their  good.s, 
but  for  the  astuteness  of  Smith,  who  contrived,  as  if  by  accident,  to 


t 
h 


TUE  SETTLEMENT   OF  VIRGINIA. 


53 


display  before  the  chief  several  fluchy  ornaments.  The  fancy  of  his 
majesty  was  wonderfully  struck  with  certain  blue  beads.  •'  A  long 
time  he  importunately  desired  them,  but  Smith  seemed  so  much  the 
more  to  affect  them,  as  being  composed  of  a  most  rare  substance  of 
the  colour  of  the  skyes,  and  not  to  be  worne  but  by  the  greatest 
kings  in  the  world.  This  made  him  halfe  madde  to  be  the  owner  of 
sucn  strange  le wells;  so  that  ere  we  departed,"  says  the  narrator, 
"for  a  pound  or  two  of  blew  beades,  he  brought  over  my  king  for 
2  or  300  Bushells  of  corne ;  yet  parted  good  friends."  Other  royal 
families  were  supplied  with  crown  jewels  at  similar  rates,  and  the 
blue  beads  were  held  in  such  veneration  that  none,  except  of  the 
blood-royal,  were  permitted  to  wear  them. 

After  their  return,  a  fresh  misfortune  befell  the  colony  in  the  sup- 
posed discovery  of  a  bed  of  gold — which  probably  was  yellow  mica 
or  iron  pyrites — and  to  the  gathering  of  which  the  foolish  colouists, 
with  great  eagerness,  betook  themselves,  despite  the  passionate  re- 
monstrances of  Smith.  "Never,"  he  says,  "anything  did  more  tor- 
ment him  than  to  see  all  necessary  business  neglected  to  fraught  such 
a  drunken  ship"  (Newport's)  "with  so  much  gilded  durt."  In  the 
spring  of  1608,  the  other  vessel,  the  Phoenix,  which  had  been  blown 
by  a  tempest  to  the  West  Indies,  arrived  with  abundant  supplies  of 
provisions.  She  was  dispatched  home  with  a  load  of  cedar,  the  first 
fruit  reaped  by  England  from  the  natural  wealth  of  the  vast  region 
she  was  attempting  to  occupy. 

Under  the  active  management  of  Smith,  the  colonists  now  seT 
themselves  busily  to  work  at  building  and  plan'ing,  and  the*  colony, 
though  somewhat  menaced  by  the  dubious  conc'uct  of  the  Indians, 
kept  in  check  only  by  the  resolute  conduct  of  the  same  energetic 
leader,  began  to  stand  on  a  basis  of  rational  pros-jcrity.  On  the  2d 
of  June,  the  indefatigable  captain,  with  fourteen  companions,  set  forth 
in  a  barge  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  and  especially  for  the  purpose 
of  exploring  Chesapeake  Bay.  "Some  visions  of  a  South  k.  ,  *o  be 
attained  and  a  new  channel  opened  to  the  wealthy  regions  oi  xiulia 
may  have  mingled,  it  is  probable,  with  the  mere  practical  intention 
of  reducing  these  great  waters  and  their  shores  within  the  limits  of 
geography."  In  the  course  of  this  survey  along  the  eastern  shore, 
many  Indians  were  encountered,  at  first  timid  or  hostile,  and  finally 
friendly  and  conliding.  After  a  fortnight  of  incessant  labour  and 
exposure,  at  tlie  mouth  of  the  Patapsco,  his  crcAv  strongly  petitioned 
for  return.     The  wcatlier  had  been  stormy  and  disastrous,   their 


i 


54 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


shirts  had  been  taken  to  make  sails,  and  several  of  them  were  sick. 
With  much  regret,  their  leader  consented,  and  on  the  16ih  of  June 
discovered  the  river  Potomac,  which  he  ascended  for  thirty  miies. 
Ilcre,  we  are  told,  probably  with  extraordinary  exagcreration,  the 
voyagers  found  "all  the  woods  l.tvd  with  ambuscadocs  to  the  number 
of  three  or  foure  thousand  Salvages,(!)  so  strangely  pa^'nted,  ^med, 
and  disguised,  shouting,  yelling,  and  crying,  as  so  many  spirits  from 
hell  could  not  have  showed  more  terrible."  In  spite  of  this  vehe- 
ment demonstration,  they  presently  entered  into  friendly  intcrcounie 
with  the  English. 

On  their  return  the  latter  were  liberally  supplied  with  game  by 
the  Indians  whom  they  encountered,  and  found  Iwli  so  plenty  that 
they  atteuij)ted  to  catch  them  with  a  frying-pan;  but  found  that 
instrument  better  suited  for  their  disposal  out  of  the  water  than  in 
it  At  the  mouth  of  the  Rapiiahanock,  at  Sting-liay  Point,  (the 
name  of  which  still  commemorates  the  incident.)  the  gallant  captiiin, 
having  speared  a  lish  with  his  sword,  and  taking  it  off  "(not  knowing 
her  condition)"  was  grievously  stung;  and  such  alarming  .symptoms 
ensued  that,  concluding  his  end  was  at  hand,  he  gave  directions  for 
his  funeral,  and  had  his  grave  prepared  in  an  island  hard  by;  yet  by 
meuiis  of  *'a  jirecious  oyle"  a])plied  by  Russell  the  surgeon,  recov- 
ered so  fur  that  he  had  his  revenge  of  the  fish  by  eating  a  piece  of 
it  for  his  sujiper.  On  the  21st  of  July  the  ex{)ediiion  returned  to 
Jamestown,  having  made  extensive  surveys,  and  acquired  muck 
knowledge  of  the  tribes  inhabiting  the  shores  of  the  Che?5ai>cake. 


y 

-m 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF   VIKGINIA. 


55 


.*., 


CHAPTER   ?I, 


SMITH    MADE   PRESIDENT. 


-HE  RESUMES  THE  SUilVEY. — TIIK 


HUSQUEIIANNAS,  —  ADTEXTURES     WITH     THE     INDIANS  - 
REMARKABLE    FEAT    OF    SURVET. RETURN    TO    JAMES- 
TOWN.—  ARRIVAL    OF    NEWPORT. ABSURD    INSTRUC- 

IIONS   OF   THE   ENGLISH   COMPANY.  —  THE   CORONATION 

OF     POWHATAN. UNSUCCESSFUL     ATTEMPT     OF 

NEWPORT     TO     FIND     THE     SOUTH     SEA. 


"While  Smith  was  absent,  the  colony,  as  a  matter  of  cour.-^c,  had 
fallen  into  miserable  disorder  and  anarchy.  "The  silly  Prc.'^ident," 
Ratclifle,  had  so  ill-treated  the  colonists,  especially  those  last  arrived, 
that,  in  the  words  of  the  old  chronicler,  "had  we  not  arrived,  they 
had  strangely  tormented  him  with  revenge:  but  the  good  Newes  of 
our  Discovery,  and  the  good  hope  we  had,  by  the  Salvages'  rehition, 
that  our  Bay  stretched  into  the  South  Sea  (!)  or  somewhat  ncare  it, 
appeased  tlicir  fury."  Rateliflc  was  forthwith  deposed  from  ofllce, 
and  Smith  elected  in  his  place — "the  place  which,  from  the  first, 
had  been  due  to  his  superior  judgment  and  experience,  a^id  which 
had  been  amply  earned  by  his  untiring  devotion  to  the  service  of 
the  colony." 

Fcjtidcr  of  e-iterpri.se  than  ofca.se  or  official  dignity,  at  the  end  of 
thrive  days,  having  appointed  a  discreet  de[)Uty  to  fill  his  place,  the 
new  president,  with  twelve  companions,  resumed  his  expedition  of 
survey.  lie  first  cruLsed  to  the  Patap.sco,  having  a  friendly  inter- 
view on  the  way  with  a  party  of  the  powerful  tribe  of  Massawoineea, 
from  the  north,  and  on  the  river  Toekwogh,  hearing  of  another 
tribe,  called  the  Su.squehanna.",  of  giant-like  stature,  sent  an  invita- 
tion to  them  to  come  and  meet  him.  Accordingly,  si.\ty  wanions, 
of  herculean  frame,  soon  presented  tliem.selve3  before  him.  "Sueii 
groat  and  well  proportioned  men,"  he  says,  "are  selilomo  Bccne,  for 
they  seemed  like  Giants  to  the  English,  yet  seemed  of  a  honest  and 
Bimi>l(»  disposition,  with  much  adoe  restrained  from  adoring  us  im 
g(.hh.  *  *'  * .  For  their  language,  it,m.'iy  well  beseeme  their  pro- 
portions, sounding  from  them  as  a  voyee  in  a  vault.  *  'I'he  pieturo 
of  the  greatest  of  them  is  signified  in  the  Mappc,  the  calfe  of  whoso 
leg  was  three-quarters  of  a  yard  about,  and  all  the  rest  of  his  liuila 


i'l 


w 


■f 


56 


AMERICA  ILLUSTBATED. 


SO  answerable  to  that  proportion,  that  be  seemed  the  goodliest  man 
we  ever  beheld."  These  splendid  savages  were  fittingly  dressed  in 
the  skins  of  wolves  and  bears,  so  worn  as  much  to  resemble  the 
natural  ferocious  appearance  of  the  animals. 

Their  veneration  for  Smith,  whose  reputation  had  doubtless  pre- 
ceded him,  was  almost  unbounded.  "There  seems  to  have  been  a 
natural  dignity,  kindness,  and  manhood  in  his  demeanor,  which 
invariably  was  sulFicient  to  overawe  or  conciliate  the  rudest  tribes 
which  he  encountered."  "Our  order,"  says  the  journal  of  the  voy- 
age, "was  daily  to  have  prayer,  with  a  Psalme,  at  which  solemniiio 
the  poor  Salvages  much  wondred;  our  Prayers  being  done,  a  while 
they  were  busied  with  a  consultation  till  they  had  contrived  their 
businesse.  Then  they  began  in  a  most  passionate  manner  to  hold 
vp  their  handes  to  the  Sunne,  with  a  most  fearefull  Song,  then 
embracing  our  Captaine,  they  began  to  adore  him  in  like  manner; 
though  he  rebuked  them,  yet  they  proceeded  till  their  Song  was 
finished;  which  done,  with  a  most  strange  furious  acticm  and  a  hell- 
ish voyce,  began  an  Oration  of  their  loves;  that  ended,  with  a  great 
painted  ]>caros  skin  they  coverei  him;  then  one  ready  witli  a  great 
chayne  of  white  Beades,  weighing  at  least  six  or  seaven  poundes. 
hung  it  about  his  necke,  the  others  had  18  mantles,  made  of  divers 
kinds  of  skinnos,  sowed  together;  all  these,  with  many  other  toyes. 
they  layod  at  his  feetc,  stroking  their  ceremonious  hands  about  his 
necke,  to  bo  their  Govcrnour  and  Protector." 

Passing  up  the  Rappahaimock,  the  voyagers  were  attacked  by 
hostile  savages,  who,  "accommodating  themselves  with  branches/' 
showered  volleys  of  arrows  on  their  barge.  One  of  these,  being 
wounded,  wiw  taken  by  the  English,  and  was  asked  why  his  people 
showed  such  eiiniity  to  peaceful  strangers — to  which,  s.'>ys  the  nar- 
rative, "the  poore  Salvage  mildly  answered  that  they  hcanl  we  were 
a  people  come  from  under  the  world  to  take  their  world  from  them. 
*  *  Tiien  wo  asked  him  what  was  beyond  the  mountains,  he 
answered  the  Sunne;  but  of  anything  els  he  knew  nothing,  because 
the  woodcs  were  not  burnt." 

In  the  course  of  this  protracted  cxpcditior  Smith  completed  the 
survey  of  the  shores  ot  Chesapeake  Bay,  of  which  he  made  an  ac- 
curate chart,  and  ae([uired  much  other  u.seful  information.  A  brief 
but  interesting  aeeuunt  of  the  country  and  the  various  tribes  encoun- 
ten-d,  was  also  drawn  up,  and  on  the  7th  of  September,  alter  an 
absence  of  three  months,  (excepting  liie  short  visit  in  July,  when  ho 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF   VIKGINIA. 


57 


made  president,)  and 


three  thoasand  miles, 


was  maae  presiaeni,;  ana  a  voyage  of  some  tnree  ttioasana 
he  returned  to  Jamestown  with  his  little  craft  deeply  laden  with 
provisions.  Three  days  after  he  was  formally  invested  with  hia 
office  and  title.  Sickness  had  prevailed,  and  many  more  of  the 
unfortunate  settlers  had  perished  in  his  absence. 

Captain  Newport  soon  arrived  again,  bringing  seventy  additional 
colonists,  some  of  them  persons  of  consideration.  Two  English- 
women, a  Mrs.  Forrest  and  maid,  were  the  first  females  who  camo 
to  the  colony,  and  there  were  also  eight  Poles  or  Germans,  sent  to 
make  tar,  glass,  and  potash.  The  English  company,  irritated  and 
disappomted  in  the  failure  of  their  extravagant  expectations,  had 
ordered  the  unfortunate  captain  "not  to  returne  without  a  lumpe  of 
golde,  a  ecrtaintie  of  the  South  Sea,  or  one  of  the  lost  companie  sent 
out  by  Sir  Walter  Kaleigh."  Accordingly,  he  had  brought  a  great 
barge,  built  in  separate  pieces,  which  was  to  be  carried  over  the 
mountiiins  of  the  West,  (the  Blue  Kiilge,)  and  thence  launched  into 
some  river  flowing  into  the  Pacific  1  "If  he  had  burnt  her  to  ashes," 
writes  Smith,  indignantly  remonstrating  with  the  company,  "one 
miglit  have  carried  her  in  a  bag  (but  as  she  is,  five  hundred  cannot) 
to  a  navigable  place  above  the  Falls.  And  for  him  at  that  time  to 
find  in  the  South  Sea  a  Mine  of  Golde,  or  any  of  them  sent  by  Sir 
Waller  Ralei'jh!  at  our  Consultation  I  told  them  was  as  likely 
as  the  rest." 

To  prDpitiate  Potvhatan,  and  thus  secure  a  free  passage  to  the 
Pacific  and  the  gold  mine,  these  gentlemen  had  disjwtchod  to  him 
certain  royalties,  consisting  of  a  basin  and  ewer,  a  bed  and  furniture, 
a  chair  of  state,  a  suit  of  scarlet,  a  cloak  and  a  crown — tlio  latter 
purporting  to  be  a  present  from  his  fellow-sovereign,  the  king  of 
England.  Smith,  after  vainly  protesting  against  these  absurdities, 
finding  the  new-comers  resolute  to  prosecute  their  plan,  did  his  best 
to  aid  tiieni.  lie  posted,  with  only  fuur  attendants,  to  Werowoco* 
moco,  where,  in  the  absence  of  Powhatan,  Poeahontxs,  witli  thirty 
of  her  maidens,  entertained  him  witii  a  (plaint  miisijuerade  and  u 
feast,  "of  all  the  Salvage  dainties  they  couUl  devise,"  and  treated 
him  witij  the  highest  honour  and  afieetion.  Tiie  ciiief,  on  his  arrival, 
being  invited  to  proceed  to  Jamestown  and  bo  invested  with  his 
regalia,  ''  w;is  taken  with  a  sudilen  fit  of  dignity  or  suspicion,''  and  to 
the  eourtcjus  urgency  of  Smith,  repliid,  'If  your  king  have  sent 
me  Presents,  I  also  am  a  King,  and  this  is  my  huid;  eight  days  I 
will  stay  to  receive  them.     Your  Father"  (Newport)  "ia  to  como  to 


58 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


me,  not  I  to  liim,  nor  yet  to  your  fort,  neither  will  I  bite  at  such  a 
bait.  *  *  As  for  any  salt  water  beyond  the  mountains,  the 
Relations  you  have-had  from  my  people  arc  false,"  and  sitting  down, 
he  began  to  draw  maps,  on  the  ground,  of  all  the  adjaeent  regions. 

Smith  and  Newport,  to  humour  his  obstinacy,  accordingly,  with 
the  presents  and  a  guard  of  iifty  men,  repaired  to  Werowocomoco. 
The  solemn  coronation  of  I'owhatan,  which  took  place  the  day  after 
their  arrival,  is  described  with  much  dry  humour  in  the  old  narrative. 
Ilis  majesty  seems  to  have  had  some  conception  of  the  humbug  of 
the  thing,  or  perhaps  a  strong  distrust  of  the  English,  or  a  dread 
of  necromancy.  His  furniture  having  been  properly  set  up,  we  are 
told,  " his  scarlet  Clcke  and  Apparcll  were  wUh  much  adoe  put  on 
him,  being  pcrswadcd  by  Xamonlnck*  they  would  not  hurt  him; 
but  a  foule  trouble  there  was  to  make  him  kneelc  to  receive  his 
Crowne,  he  neither  knowing  the  maiesty  nor  meaning  of  a  Crowne 
nor  bending  of  the  knee,  end\ired  so  many  perswasions,  examples, 
and  instructions  as  tyred  tiiem  all;  at  last,  by  kani'nj  hard  on  Jih 
sltoiihlcrs,  lie  a  Utile  stooped,  and  three,  having  the  Crowne  in  their 
hands,  put  it  on  his  head,  when,  by  the  warning  of  a  Pistoll,  the 
Boats  were  prepared  with  such  a  volley  of  shot,  that  the  King  started 
up  in  a  horrible  feare,  till  he  saw  that  all  was  well." 

This  august  ceremony  accomplished,  Newport,  despite  the  warn- 
ings of  the  king,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  in  "his  great 
five-pecced  barge,"  set  forth  to  ascend  the  James  River  in  quest  of 
his  lump  of  gold  and  the  South  Sea.  The  boat  was  stopped  by  the 
Falls,  and  tiie  company,  after  getting  by  land  about  forty  miles  fur- 
ther, and  suffering  much  from  toil  and  exposure,  were  compelled  to 
return  to  Jamestown.  On  their  arrival.  Captain  Smith  set  them  at 
Work  at  various  useful  occupations,  pueh  as  cutting  down  trees  and 
hewiiig  timber,  taking  the  lead  himself,  and  making  laljour  p!e;u^unt 
by  good-nature  and  merriment. 

*  Ni'\v|»(irf,  oil  liU  former  vi-<it,  ImH  pri'spnti-d  Powh.nbn  with  a  boy  n.inicii  Salvaj^o, 
Rnd  tlio  oliiif,  in  ri'liirn,  InJ  yiveii  liiin  ";Y<iHH(n/itA-,  hU  tmslio  servant,  uiid  one  of  k 
uircwd,  subtile  capaoitic* 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  VIRGINIA. 


59 


ujtliiliriiiiiail,     viXo 

PLOT  iGAINST  SMITH. — HIS  LETTER  TO  THE  COMPANY.  —  HIS 
KPPORTS  TO  SUPPORT  THE   COLONY.  —  EXPEDITION    TO   SUR- 
PRISE   POWHATAN.  —  ARTFUL    SPEECHES,    AND    MUTUAL 
TREACHERY. —  THE  ENGLISH  AGAIN  SAVED  RY  POCAHONTAS. 

To  meet  the  scarcity  of  provisions,  wliicli  again  menaced  the 
colon}',  Smith  again  asccndoel  the  Chickahominy,  and  brougiit  back 
a  great  store  of  corn.  Newport  and  HatcliiVo,  in  his  absence,  had 
plotted  to  depose  him;  but,  we  arc  told,  "their  homes  v.'crc  so  much 
too  short  to  ellect  it,  as  they  them.>^elves  more  narrowly  escaped  a 
greater  mischiefe."  lie  finally  dispatched  home  a  ship  freighted  with 
the  producta  of  the  country,  and  in  a  letter  to  the  company,  besought 
a  supply  of  mechanics  and  labourers.  Complaiiung  of  the  misrep- 
resentations of  Newport,  he  add.s,  "Now  that  you  should  know  I 
have  made  you  as  great  a  discovery  as  he,  for  a  lesse  charge  than 
he  spendeth  you  every  meale,  1  have  sent  you  this  Mappe  of  the 
Bav  and  Rivers,  with  an  annexed  llelation  of  the  Countries  and 
Nations  that  iidiabit  them,  as  you  may  see."  They  had  complained 
that  they  were  kept  in  i^'norance  of  the  country,  to  which  ho  siiflly 
replies,  "I  desire  but  to  know  what  either  you  or  these  here  doe 
know,  but  what  I  have  learned  to  tell  you,  at  tiie  continuall  haztird 
of  my  life." 

In  the  ensuing  winter,  scarcity  again  prevailed,  and  the  president, 
by  repeated  excursions  among  the  Indians,  .sleeping,  with  his  attend* 
ant.s,  in  the  snow,  gained  a  scanty  and  precarious  supply.  The 
colony  at  length  being  in  danger  of  starvation,  he  came  to  the  rash 
and  unscrupulous  resolution  of  sei;'.ing  the  stores  of  Powhatan  and 
making  prisoner  of  that  chief  hiin.self.  On  the  2'Jlh  of  December, 
be  .»»ct  forth  up  the  river,  with  three  boats  and  forty-six  volunteers, 
and  on  ids  way  dispatched  Mr.  Sieklcmorc,  ("a  very  valiant,  honest, 
and  paincfull  Souldicr,")  with  two  more,  on  an  unsuccessful  search 
for  ihe  lost  colony  of  llaleigh.  Arriving  at  ^Verowocomoeo,  he  was 
veil  entertained  by  Powhatan,  who,  however,  was  well  appri::ed  of 
Lis  hostile  intention,  having  been  iiifornu'd  of  it  by  the  Germans, 
who  had  been  sent  to  build  him  a  house.  Much  parley  ensued,  each 
professing  much  friendship,  and  endeavouring  to  take  the  other  at  a 


J 


I 


I 


60 


AMERICA  ILLUSTKATED. 


disadvantage,  and  Powhatan  made  a  set  speech,  "expostulating  the 
difference  between  Peace  and  Warre." 

"Captaine  Smith,"  he  said,  "you  may  understand  that,  having 
scene  the  death  of  all  my  people  thrice,  and  not  any  one  living  of 
those  three  generations  but  myselfe,  I  know  the  difference  of  Peace 
and  Warre  better  than  any  in  my  country.  But  now  I  am  old,  and 
ere  long  must  die.  *  *  *  Think  you  I  am  so  simple 
as  not  to  know  it  is  better  to  eate  good  meate,  lye  well,  and  sleep 
quietly  with  my  women  and  children,  laugh  and  be  merry  with  you, 
have  copper,  hatchets,  or  what  I  want,  being  your  friend;  than  be 
forced  to  flye  from  all,  to  lye  cold  in  the  woods,  feede  upon  Acornes, 
rootes,  and  such  trash,  and  be  so  hunted  by  you  that  I  can  neither 
rest  eate,  nor  sleepe;  but  my  tyred  men  must  Avatch,  and  if  a  twig 
but  breake,  every  one  cryeth,  'there  commeth  Captaine  Smith;*  then 
must  I  fly  I  know  not  whither,  and  thus  with  miserable  feare  end 
my  miserable  life."  He  then  endeavoured  to  persuade  the  English 
to  lay  aside  their  aiTis,  intending  to  surprise  them;  and  on  their 
refusal,  heaving  a  deep  sigh,  "breathed  his  mind  once  more,"  in  art- 
ful persuasions  to  the  same  effect,  and  reminded  Smith  how  he  had 
always  called  him  his  father.  "I  call  you  father,  indeed,"  said  his 
guest,  "and  as  a  father  you  shall  see  I  will  love  you;  but  the  small 
care  you  have  of  such  a  childe,  caused  my  men  to  perswade  me  to 
looke  to  myselfo." 

Meanwhile,  he  privately  sent  for  his  soldiers  at  the  boats  to  land 
quickly  and  surprise  the  chief;  but  the  latter,  forewarned  of  their 
movements,  retreated  into  the  woods,  and  his  warriors,  in  great 
number,  closed  around  the  house.  But  Smith,  rushing  among  them 
with  sword  and  target,  Miade  good  his  exit,  and  Powhatan,  says  the 
narrative,  "to  excuse  his  flight  and  the  sudden  coming  of  this  multi- 
tude, sent  our  Captaine  a  great,  bracelet  and  a  chaine  of  pearl,  by  an 
ancient  Oratour," — who  had  charge,  with  plausible  explanations,  to 
smooth  the  affair  over.  The  captain  had  purchased  a  quantity  of  corn, 
which  the  Indians  carried  to  his  barge,  and  prepared  tu  pass  the 
night  in  the  village.  Powhatan,  "bursting  with  desire  to  have  hia 
head,"  meanwhile,  laid  a  deep  plot  for  the  destruction  of  the  iiitruders. 
"Notwithstanding,"  continues  the  old  narrative,  "the  eternall  all 
seeing  God  did  prevent  him,  and  by  a  strange  meanes.  For  Poca- 
hontiis,  his  dearest  iewell  and  daughtei,  in  that  darkc  night  came 
through  the  irksome  woodes,  and  told  our  (\iptainc  great  cheare 
should  be  sent  us  by  and  by;  but  Powhatan  and  all  the  power  he 


■4 


M 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF   VIKOINIA. 


'.  i 


, 


Gl 


oonid  make  would  after  come  kill  us  all,  if  they  that  brcTgliit  5t 
ooald  not  kill  us  with  our  owne  weapons  when  we  were  at  2iij}|*r. 
Therefore,  if  we  would  live,  shoe  wished  us  presently  to  be  gftflpje. 
Such  things  as  she  delighted  in  he  would  have  given  her;  bat  v'nh 
the  teares  running  downe  her  cheekes,  she  said  she  darat  nfA  ?>•? 
seene  to  have  any,  for  if  Powhatan  should  know  it,  she  weme  hat 
dead;  so  shee  ranne  away  by  herselfe  as  she  came," 

In  the  evening,  according  to  tlie  plot,  a  number  of  savage?,  If^iair- 
ing  great  platters  of  venison  and  other  refreshments,  came  to*  the 
quarters  of  the  English.  With  much  civility,  they  requested  111ji« 
latter  to  put  out  the  matches  of  their  guns,  alleging  that  the  a-r.vike 
made  them  sick;  but  the  intended  victims  only  redoubled  their  pre- 
cautions against  surprise,  and  Powhatan,  who  sent  mesHencrer  aiMT 
messenger  to  learn  the  state  of  ailViirs,  at  length  despaired  of  firidijjig 
them  olf  their  guard,  and  relinquished  his  design.  The  vext  mom* 
ing  the  uninvited  visitors  took  their  departure.  "  It  certainly  camnot 
be  regretted  that  this  attempt  of  Smith  to  seize  the  peraom  asad 
pro[icrty  of  the  chief  who  had  formerly  spared  his  life  should  inave 
been  uasucoessful." 


LliAFTEH    /III, 


tnE   PLOT    AT    P.41IUNirET:     DEPE.^TED    BY    THE    D.»Rr5<5   AJ» 

SNEkCY     OP     SMITH.  —  THE     COLONY     SUPPLIED. 3IITI 

FOISO.VED.  —  HIS   UNSCRUPULOUS    POLICY.  —  Hli   PrCBT 
WITH    THE    KlVa    OP    PASPAHEGH. "PRETTY    AC- 
CIDENTS"   AMONG    THE    INDIANS. 

At  Pamunke}',  the  seat  of  Opcchancanough,  whither  thef  next 
rcfKiired,  liberal  entertainment  was  provided  for  the  Englidi,  and  a 
plot  for  their  destruction  was  again  concerted.  At  the  hooaw  of 
that  chief,  Smith,  with  only  fifteen  companions,  waa  finally  fnir- 
rounded  by  a  force  of  seven  hundred  armed  warriors;  bis  ham^ 
"with  a  strained  cheerful n esse,"  holdinf^him  engaged  in  ta!k  the 
while.  On  seeing  his  situation,  the  captain,  in  a  stirring  little  *f»«icK 
exhortoil  his  i>eople  "to  fight  like  men  and  not  die  like  aheepe^^and 
then,  teliing  his  treacherous  host,  "I  see  your  plot  to  murder  me, 


\l 


82 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


but  I  feare  it  not,"  defied  him  to  single  combat.  Besides  his  life,  ho 
offered  to  stake  on  the  issue  any  amount  of  copper  against  the  same 
value  in  corn — "and  our  Game,"  he  said,  "shall  be,  the  Conquerour 
take  all."  But  the  chief,  declining  this  handsome  proposal,  endeav- 
oured to  induce  his  gueyt  to  venture  forth,  on  pretence  of  bestowing 
on  !iim  a  rich  i)resent,  thirty  of  the  savages  lying  in  ambush  behind 
a  great  log  to  shoot  him.. 

Apprized  of  this  design,  the  incensed  captain,  "in  a  rage  snatched 
the  king  by  his  long  locko  in  the  middest  of  his  men,"  clapped  a 
pistol  to  his  breast,  and  led  him  forth  before  the  multitude  of  his 
warriors.  The  chief  then  "bestowed  his  presents  in  good  .sadne.-se," 
his  people,  fearing  for  his  life,  making  no  resistance;  and  Smith 
"still  holding  the  King  by  the  hayre,"  addressed  the  assembled 
savages  with  stern  reproaches.  "If  you  shoote  but  one  Arrow,"  he 
concluded,  "to  shed  one  drop  of  bloud  of  any  of  my  men,  or  steale 
the  leaste  of  these  Beades  and  Copper  which  I  spurne  here  before 
me  with  my  foote;  you  shall  see  I  will  7iot  cease  revenue  (if  once  I 
begin)  so  long  as  I  can  hcarc  to  find  one  of  your  Nation  that  w  ill 
not  deny  the  name  of  Pamaiaik.  I  am  not  now  at  llassaweak,  half 
drowned  with  myre,  where  you  tooke  me  prisoner.  You  promised 
to  fraught  my  shi[>  ere  I  departed,  and  so  you  shall,  or  I  will  loade 
her  with  your  dead  carcasses."  This  "angry  parle,"  however,  he 
ended  more  mildly,  ollering  the  release  of  their  chief  and  his  own 
friendship,  if  they  would  fullil  their  agreements.  Struck,  it  would 
seem,  with  equal  awe  and  admiration,  the  Indians  laid  aside  their 
weapons,  and  began  to  bring  in  great  store  of  provisions,  and  sin- 
gularly enougli,  yet,  from  repeated  experience,  not  improbably,  they 
ajipear  to  have  fulfilled  their  agreement  with  real  cordiality. 

AFeanwhile,  alfairs  at  Jamestown  had  gone  ill.  Scrivener,  the 
deputy,  with  ten  others,  having  been  drowned,  on  a  stormy  d:iv,  in 
a  boat.  The  life  of  tiie  messenger  sent  with  the  disa.^trous  tidiiiga 
to  Werowocomoco,  was  only  saved  by  the  compassion  of  Pocaiiontaa. 
who  contrived  to  hide  him  from  tiie  executioners.  The  contest  of 
their  wits  was  presently  renewed  between  Smith  and  Powhatan,  the 
former  endeavouring  to  surprise  tliat  chief  and  seize  his  sfiro  of 
provisions,  (a  plan  again  th'feated  by  "those  damned  Dutf.'hmcn," 
says  the  indigiuuit  narrator,)  and  the  latter  leaving  no  means  untried 
to  take  the  life  of  his  redoubted  foe.  His  people  not  daring  to  attack 
the  Knglish  openly,  an  attempt  was  made  to  poison  them,  which, 
however,  only  had  tiic  cllect  to  make  Smith  and  some  others  disa 


»pwp 


rU£   SETTLEMENT   OF    VIBGISIA. 


63 


greeably  but  not  dangerously  sick.  "  Wecullanow,  a  stout  young 
fellow,  knowing  he  was  suspected  of  bringing  this  present  of  poyson, 
with  fortic  or  fiftie  of  his  chiefe  companions,  (s<;eing  the  President 
with  but  a  few  men  at  Potauncok,)  so  proudly  braved  it,  as  though 
he  expected  to  incounter  a  revenge. — Which  the  President  perceiv- 
ing, in  the  midst  of  his  company  did  not  onely  beate,  but  spurne 
hitn  like  a  dogge,  as  scorning  to  doe  him  any  worse  mlschiefe." 

The  company  finally  returned  to  Jamestown  with  live  hundred 
burihels  of  corn,  obtained  by  long  foraging  and  traffic  among  the 
various  tribes.  A  portion,  we  regret  to  say,  was  wrested  by  violence 
from  its  ])ossc?sors,  and  it  is  to  be  lamented  that  Smith,  who  cer- 
tainly had  a  generous  and  comj)assionate  heart,  should  have  suUered 
considerations  of  policy  or  reprisal  to  commit  him  in  acts  which 
doubtless  leave  a  shade  upon  his  memory.  The  old  chronicler  of  the 
expedition,  however,  seems  to  have  viewed  the  matter  in  a  very  dif- 
ferent light,  and  even  takes  much  pains  to  exculpate  the  i>aity  from 
the  charge  of  blameable  moderation,  which,  he  fears,  "the  blind 
world's  ignorant  censure  "  might  impute  to  them.  "These  temporizing 
proceedings,"  he  says,  "to  some  may  seem  too  charitable,  to  such  a 
daily  daring,  trecherous  people;  to  others  not  pleasing  that  we 
washed  not  the  ground  with  their  blouds,  nor  showed  such  strange 
inventions  in  mangling,  murdering,  ransacking;  and  destroying  (as 
did  the  >Sfu)i>/arJ.s)  the  simple  bodies  of  such  ignorant  soules." 

The  dread  of  starvation  removed  by  this  abundant  sujipiv,  Smith 
set  the  colonists  at  work  at  various  useful  occupation-s,  keei)ing  a 
table  of  their  merits  or  demerits,  and  .«trictly  enforcing  the  required 
tasks — "for  there  was  no  excuse  could  prevaile  to  deceive  him." 
Fresh  troubles  with  the  savages,  excited  by  the  Germans,  soon  brcjke 
out,  and  Sinitli,  incautiou.sly  traveLing  alone,  with  no  weapon  but 
his  sword,  aL'aiu  had  occasion  to  show  all  his  manhood  in  dcfendins; 
his  head.  An  ambuscade  of  forty  warriors  had  been  prepared  to 
interce])t  him.  "By  the  way  he  incountred  the  King  of  Pas])ahegh, 
a  most  stout  strong  Salvage,  whose  perswasiona  not  being  able  to 
perswade  him  to  his  Ambush,  seeing  him  onely  armed  but  with  a 
faueheon"  (falcliion)  "attempted  to  have  shot  him,  but  the  President 
prevented  his  shooting  by  grapling  with  him,  and  the  Sxdvage  as 
well  prevented  his  drawing  his  fuuchcon,  and  perforce  bore  him  into 
the  Hiver  to  have  drowned  him.  Long  they  struggled  in  the  water, 
till  the  President  got .  h  a  hold  on  his  throat,  he  had  nearc  stran- 
gled the  King;  but  having  drawne  his  faueheon  to  cut  off  his  head, 
Vol.  IV.— 33 


M 


tl 

y 

PI'I 

1 

1^ 

1 

64 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


seeing  liow  j)itifully  he  begged  his  life,  he  led  him  prisoner  to  lamea 
Towne  and  put  him  in  chaynes."  Encounters  with  the  hostile 
tribe,  resulting  in  a  more  sanguinary  manner,  were  finally  ended 
by  treaty.  The  Indians  had  been  eager,  by  theft  or  under-handed 
dealings,  to  procure  arms  and  ammunition;  but  it  so  happened 
that  in  drying  a  quantity  of  gun-powder  on  a  piece  of  armour  over 
the  fire,  it  exploded,  to  their  terrible  injury,  so  that  by  "thi.s  and 
many  such  pretty  Accidents,"  we  are  told,  they  took  a  wholesome 
distrust  of  the  dangerous  commodity,  and  adopted  an  attitude  of  con- 
ciliation toward  the  colonists. 


uXiiiliriLJuiTi,    IJLa 

IDLENESS   OP    THE   SETTLERS. — ELOQUENT   SPEECH    AND   VIGOROUS 

POLICY   OF    SMITH. THE    NEW    VIRGINIA    COMPANY.  —  UNJUST 

ASSUMPTION   OP   POWER.  —  SMITH    DEPOSED.  —  GREAT   EX- 
PEDITION   DISPATCHED   PRO.M   ENGLAND:    ILL-FORTUNB. 

ARRIVAL   OF    NUMEROUS   IMMIGRANTS. — ANARCHY. 

— SMITH    RKaSSUMES    THE    PRESIDENCY. 

By  the  energy  oi  their  brave  and  industrious  president,  the  Vir 
ginian  colonists  had  been  amply  supplied  with  food  and  shelter;  and 
additional  buildings  and  more  extended  agriculture  betokened  the 
prosperity  of  the  settlement.  Destruction  of  their  store,  by  rotting 
and  the  rats,  renewed  former  privations,  and  reawakened  the  old 
mutinous  and  disco'.itcnted  spirit.  By  the  assistance  of  the  In- 
diiins,  and  by  fishing  and  gathering  the  natural  products  of  the 
countr}',  a  number  of  the  more  industrious  continued  to  keep  the 
settlement  from  starvation.  "But  such  was  the  strange  condition 
of  some  150,  that  had  they  not  been  forced,  noLii.'?  v.lens^  to  gather 
and  prepare  their  victuall,  they  would  all  have  starved  or  eaten  one 
another."  "These  distracted  Gluttonous  Loytcrcrs"  would  fain  have 
sold  to  the  Indians  every  utensil  of  labour  or  defence,  for  a  pittance 
of  corn,  and  omitted  no  means  of  cunning  and  mutinoiis  demeanour 
to  compel  the  president  to  break  up  the  settlement  and  return  to 
England. 

Out  of  patience  at  their  ill-behaviour,  he  finally  resorted  to  severe 
measures.    In  a  summary  manner  he  punished  the  chief  ringleader, 


severe 
[leader, 


'■A- 


THE   SETTLEMENT   OF   VIRGINIA. 


65 


"one  Dyer,  a  most  crafty  fellow  and  his  ancient  Maligner,"  and 
made  a  speech  of  severe  admonition,  evidently  mrefully  mwlelled  on 
his  favourite  classics,  to  the  rest.  *' Fellow-soldiers,"  he  said,  "I  did 
little  think  any  so  false  to  report,  or  so  many  to  be  so  simple  as 
to  be  perswaded,  that  I  either  intend  to  starve  you,  or  that  PoiduUar, 
at  this  present  hath  come  for  himselfe,  much  lease  for  you;  or  that 
[  would  not  have  it,  if  I  knew  where  it  were  to  be  had.  Neithei 
did  I  thinke  any  so  malitious  as  I  now  see  a  great  many;  yet  it  shall 
not  so  passionate  me  but  I  will  doe  my  best  for  my  most  maligner. 
But  dream  no  longer  of  this  vaine  hope  from  Powhatan^  nor  that  I 
will  longer  forbeare  to  force  you  from  your  Idlenesse,  and  punish 
you  if  you  rayle.  But  if  I  find  any  more  runners  for  Newfon  Hand 
with  the  Pinnace,  let  them  assuredly  looko  to  arive  at  the  Gallows. 

"You  cannot  deny  but  that  by  the  hazard  of  my  life  many  a  time 
I  have  sav«d  yours,  when  (might  your  own  wills  have  prevailed) 
you  would  nave  starved.  But  I  protest  by  that  God  that  made  me, 
since  necessitie  hath  not  power  to  force  you  to  gather  for  yourselves 
those  fruitcs  the  earth  doth  yeeld,  you  shall  not  onely  gather*for 
your  selves,  but  for  those  that  are  sicke.  As  yet,  I  never  had  more 
from  the  store  than  the  worst  of  you ;  and  all  my  English  extraor- 
dinary provision  that  I  have,  you  shall  see  me  divide  it  among 
the  sicke. 

"And  this  Salvage  trash  you  so  scomefully  repine  at,  being  put 
in  your  mouths,  your  stomachs  can  digest  it.  If  you  would  have 
better,  you  should  have  brought  it;  and  therefore  I  will  take  a  course 
that  you  shall  provide  what  is  to  be  had.  The  sicke  shall  not  starve, 
but  sharp  equally  of  all  our  laDors,  and  he  that  gathereth  not  every 
day  as  much  as  I  doe,  the  next  day  shall  be  set  beyond  the  river, 
and  be  banished  from  the  Fort  as  a  drone,  till  he  amend  his  condi- 
tions or  starve." 

This  stern  and  summary  policy  had  the  required  eflTect,  and  the 
colonists  set  to  work  collecting  the  natural  fruits  of  the  country  with 
iuch  diligence  that  their  condition  was  speedily  impr(fved.  In  the 
spring  of  lfi09,  Captain  Samuel  Argall  (afterwards  governor)  arrived 
in  a  vessel  well  loaded  with  supplies,  which  the  settlers  converted 
J  their  own  use,  restitution  being  afterwards  made.  This  arrival 
Drought  tidings  of  an  important  character. 

Disappointed  and  irritated  by  what  they  considered  the  inexcusa- 
ble neglect  of  their  agents  in  failing  to  discover  a  gold  mine  or  a 
passage  to  the  Pacific,  the  Virginia  Company  visited  the  whole 


j 


1- 

i 


i 


66 


AMERICA   ILLUSTKATED. 


M 


weight  of  their  displeasure  on  the  liead  of  Captain  Smith.  "His 
necessarily  firm  and  rigorous  rule  had  made  him  many  enemies; 
and  the  bluntncss  and  plain-spoken  truth  of  his  communications  had 
shocked  the  dignity  of  the  authorities  at  home.  They  resolved  to 
depose  him  from  the  command  of  the  colony,  which  his  almost  un- 
aided exertions  had  so  repeatedly  preserved  from  destruction,  and 
the  true  value  of  which  their  short-sighted  rapacity  prevented  them 
from  appreciating." 

To  gratify  persons  of  wealth  and  influence  who  had  joined  the 
company,  in  May,  1609,  a  new  charter  was  obtained,  granting  abso- 
lute power  of  control  over  Virginia  to  the  patentees,  and  unjustly 
depriving  the  colonists  of  even  the  shadow  of  self-government.  Lord 
Delaware  was  appointed  captain-general,  and  a  host  of  inferior  offi- 
cers, with  high-sounding  titles,  were  also  created  for  the  benefit  of 
the  poverty-stricken  colony.  In  the  same  month,  nine  ships,  com- 
manded by  Newport,  and  curr^'ing  five  hundred  people,  under 
command  of  Sir  Thomas  Gates  and  Sir  George  Somers,  sailed  from 
England,  leaving  Delaware  to  follow  with  fresh  recruits.  These  three 
dignitaries,  by  a  singular  piece  of  folly,  all  embarked  in  the  same  ship, 
with  all  their  papers,  and  a  great  part  of  the  provisions.  In  the 
latter  part  of  July,  this  vessel,  "in  the  tayle  of  a  llericano  "  (hurricane) 
was  driven  from  the  squadron  and  wrecked  on  the  Bermudas,  An- 
other foundered  at  sea,  and  the  rest,  in  most  miserable  plight,  and 
without  any  general  commander,  arrived  finally  at  Jamestown. 

Their  arrival  was  the  signal  for  fresh  disorders.  Most  of  the  new 
emigrants,  it  would  seem,  were  in  a  manner  the  refuse  of  the  com- 
munity— "mucli  fitter  to  spoil  a  commonwealth  than  to  raise  or 
maintain  one,"  In  "this  lewd  company,"  it  is  said,  were  "many 
unruly  Gallants,  packed  thither  by  their  friends  to  escape  ill-desti- 
nies"— broken  down  gentlemen,  bankrupt  tradesmen,  and  decayed 
serving-men.  Smith  having  been  deposed  by  the  authorities,  and 
their  officers  having  been  shipwrecked  on  the  Bermudas,  there  wvs 
no  regular  government,  and  the  people  soon  fell  into  a  state  of  an- 
archy, setting  up  and  pulling  down  their  authorities  almost  daily, 
and  modelling  the  government  after  their  changeable  caprice  and 
fancy.  In  this  strait,  the  more  sensible  entreated  Smith  to  resume 
the  command,  seeing  that  no  one  had  yet  arrived  to  displace  him. 
He  consented  with  reluctance,  and  a  vigorous  exertion  of  his  wonted 
authority  soon  reduced  these  unruly  spirits  to  something  like  order 
and  obe'"'ence. 


I 


r, 


wmj  ".K^pjwjmw' 


THE   SETTLEMENT   OF   VIKOINIA. 


67 


PDTILB   ATTEMPTS  AT  FOUNDING   NEW   SETTLEMENTS  — FOLLI 

AND    OBSTINACY    OP    THE   COLONISTS. SMITH   TERRIBLY 

INJURED.  —  HE     RETURNS     TO     ENGLAND.  —  HIS     SER- 
VICES  TO   THE   COLONY.  —  AWFUL   SUFFERING    AND 
MORTALITY    AFTER    HIS    DEPARTURE. 

Jamestown  being  overcrowded,  it  was  now  tliought  best  to  plant 
other  settlements,  and  a  hundred  and  twenty  men,  under  Martin, 
attempted  to  found  a  colony  at  Nan.^emond ;  but  from  the  inefficiency 
of  their  commander  aiid  the  hostility  of  the  Indians,  the  scheme 
proved  a  complete  failure.  A  like  number,  under  Captain  West, 
proceeded  to  the  Falls  of  James  Kiver,  where  they  pitched  upon  a 
spot  exposed  to  inundations  and  other  inconveniences.  To  provide 
them  a  better  locality,  Smith  agreed  with  Powhatan  for  the  purchase 
of  his  town  of  the  same  name,  hard  by,  with  its  fort  and  all  the 
houses:  "but  both  this  excellent  place  and  those  good  conditions 
did  these  furies  refuse,  contemning  both  him,  his  kinde  care  and 
authoritie."  To  persuade  them  to  reason,  he  repaired  thither  with 
only  five  companions,  but  was  compelled  by  their  violence  to  betake 
himself  to  his  barge,  where,  for  nine  days,  he  waited,  hoping  to  find 
them  more  sensible,  and  much  troubled  at  hearing  the  continual 
complaints  of  their  violence  and  injustice  made  by  the  neighbouring 
Indians.  lie  finally  sailed  down  the  river,  but  was  presently  re- 
called by  news  that  the  savages  had  attacked  them  and  killed  a 
number.  Hastening  back,  he  f<)(ind  them  submissive  enough,  and 
removed  them  to  the  quarters  he  had  selected,  .at  Powhatan,  where, 
indeed,  they  did  not  long  remain,  resuming,  with  strange  obstinacy, 
their  ill-ehoscn  position. 

The  captain,  as  he  returned,  met  with  terrible  injury  from  the 
explosion  of  a  bag  of  gun-powder,  which  caught  fire  while  he  was 
asleep,  burning  him  severely,  and  setting  fire  to  his  clothes.  lie 
jumped  overboard  to  quench  them,  and  was  with  difficulty  saved 
from  drowning.  Carried  in  this  wretched  condition,  i.ir  a  hundred 
miles,  to  Jamestown,  without  the  aid  of  surgery,  he  was  laid  pros- 
trate on  a  bed  of  sickness,  and  some  of  the  malcontents,  it  is  said, 
"seeing  the  J'resident  unable  to  stand,  and  neere  bereft  of  his  senses 


1 


\1 


68 


AMERICA   ILLUSTKATED. 


ny  reason  of  his  tormoHtt,  plottoil  to  murder  him  in  his  bed.  But 
his  heart  did  fuilc  hiiu  that  should  have  given  fire  to  that  merci- 
lease  pistoll." 

The  president,  his  active  and  energetic  career  thoa  lamentably 
arrested,  and  knowing  that  the  arrivtil  of  any  of  the  delayed  official* 
wcuhl  at  once  suj)plant  his  authority,  now  resolved  to  proceed  to 
England  for  surgical  aid.  Early  in  the  autumn  of  W/J,  he  set  sail, 
leaving  at  Jamestown  and  the  other  Virginia  posts  four  hundred 
and  ninety  people,  well  supplied  with  arms,  provision,  and  the 
means  of  cultivation  and  improvement. 

"  It  is  almost  impossible  to  over-estimate  the  services  of  this  remark- 
able  man  in  laying  the  foundation  of  the  American  empire.  The 
briMiant  feats  of  arms  which  he  so  often  performed,  and  the  deadly 
perils  which  he  so  often  encountered,  are  little  iu  comparison  with 
the  untiring  zeal,  the  ever-watchful  foresight,  and  the  sagacious 
policy,  by  which,  for  years,  he  sustained,  on  his  si  :gle  arm,  the 
entire  weight  of  the  existence  of  the  colony.  Incom[)etency  of  his 
employers,  mutiny  among  his  followers,  the  hostility  of  powerful 
tribes,  sickness,  privations,  and  famine  itself,  were  all  remedied  or 
conquered  by  his  dmost  unaided  exertions. 

"Rude  and  violent  as  he'often  was  toward  the  offending  natives, 
no  white  man,  jiorhaps,  ever  so  far  conciliated  the  favour  and  gained 
the  respect  of  the  Indian  race.  His  very  name,  long  after,  was  a 
8pell  of  power  among  them,  and  had  he  remained  in  Virginia  a  few 
years  longer,  the  memorable  massacre  which,  in  1622,  proved  an 
almost  fatal  blow  to  the  settlements  in  that  country,  would,  it  is 
prol^ble,  never  have  been  perpetrated.  The  wretched  condition  of 
J  the  colony,  immediately  after  his  di.'i>arture,  may  be  given  in  the 
rude  but  gra)»hic  Ijinguage  of  one  who  shared  its  misfurtunes. 

'•'Now  we  all  found  the  losse  of  Captaine  SmilJt,  yea.  Lis  greatest 

maligners  could  now  curse  his  losso;  as  for  corne,  provision,  and 

contribution  from  the  Salvages,  we  had  nothing  but  mortall  wounds, 

with  clubs  anil  arrows;    as  for  our  Hogs,  Hens,  Gtjates,  Sheepe, 

j    Horse,  or  what  lived,  our  commanders,  olhcers,  and  the  Salvages 

j    daily  consumf'd  them,  (some  small  proportion  sometimes  we  tasted,) 

j    till  all  was  devoured;  tiien  swords,  arms,  pieces,  or  anything  we 

I    traded  with   the   Salvages,  whose   cruell   fingers  were  »*  oft  im- 

brewed  in  our  blonds,  that,  what  by  their  crueltie,  our  Goverrjour's 

indiscretion  and  the  losse  of  our  ships,  of  five  hundred,  within  six 

monclhs  after  Captaine  Smith's  departure,  there  remained  not  past 


K<1     But 

lat  merci- 

.mentably 
d  officialfl 
roceed  to 
e  set  sail, 
buridred 
and  the 

s  remark- 
ire.  The 
le  dead  I J 
ison  with 
sagacious 
arm,  the 
cy  of  his 
powerful 
ledied  or 

I  natives, 
id  gained 
ff,  was  a 
nia  a  few 
"oved  an 
Uid,  it  is 
dition  of 
n  ia  the 

=8. 

greatest 

fion,  and 
wounds, 

.Shecpe, 
?alva;.'e9 

tasted,) 
hu>i[  we 

oft  im« 
crTiOur's 
thin  six 
uot  past 


THE  SETTLEMENT   OF  VIKGINIA. 


G9 


sixtie  men,  women,  and  children,  most  miserable  and  poore  crca- 
turns;  and  those  Wfre  preserved,  for  the  most  part,  by  r jotcs,  herbcs, 
walnuts,  acornes,  now  and  then  a  liltle  fish;  they  that  had  starch,  iu 
such  extremities  made  no  small  use  of  it;  yea,  even  the  very  skinnes 
of  our  Horses.  Nay,  so  great  was  our  famine,  that  a  Salvage  we 
slejy  and  buried,  the  poorer  sort  tooke  him  up  againe  and  eate  him, 
and  so  did  divers  one  another,  boylcd  and  stewed  with  rootcs  and 
herbes;  and  one  amongst  the  rest  did  kille  his  wife,  powdered" 
(pickled)  "her,  and  had  eaten  part  of  her  before  it  was  knowne,  for 
which  hce  was  executed  as  hee  well  deserved  *  *  This  was  that 
time,  which  still  to  this  day  we  call  'the  starving  time';  it  were  too 
vile  to  say,  and  scarce  to  bee  beleeved  what  we  endured;  but  the 
occasion  was  oure  own,  for  want  of  providence,  Industrie,  and 
government.' 

"Such  arc  the  trials,  sufferings,  and  privations,  amid  which,  too 
often,  the  foundation  of  a  commonwealth  in  the  wilderness  must  be 
laid — misfortunes  at  times  hardly  avoidable,  but,  as  in  the  present 
ca.se,  inlinitely  aggravated  by  the  want  of  a  firm,  sagacious,  and 
resolute  Head."* 


MEMOIR  OP  SMITH,  COMIXCED  AND  CONCLUDED.  —  HIS  VOYAOB 

TO  NEW  KXULAXD  AND   SUKVEYS.  —  HIS   SECOND   EXPEDITION. 

—  HIS   ADVE.NTUKES   AMOXU    THE   PIRATES:    HIS   ESCAPE. 

—  HIS    0  U  K  A  T    E  X  K  It  T 1 0  .\  S    FOR    T  11  E   S  E  T  T  I,  E  il  E  X  T    U  F 

NEW   EXdLAXD.  —  IXTERESflXO    VNTERVIEW    IIETWEEN 

SMITH     AXD    POCAHONTAS    IN     ENGLAND.  —  LAST 

YEARS    OF    SMITH.  —  HIS    DEATH.  —  HIS  CHAll- 

ACTKtt    AND    ACHIEVEMENTS. 

Having  given  a  brief  account  of  the  early  adventure.^  of  Captain 
Sinitli,  (whose  life,  more  nearly  than  tliat  of  any  other  man,  seems 
to  connect  the  fortilnes  of  the  Old  World  with  the  New,)  having 
remarked  to  what  admirable  purpose  his  training  in  the  rough  school 
of  war,  of  travel,  and  of  adversity  served  in  his  career  as  a  colonist, 

♦  Distovcrer*,  <tc.,  of  Aniork-a. 


L. 


70 


AMEUICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


it  may  not  be  amiss  to  give  a  few  particulars  of  the  remainder  of  bis 
active  and  useful  life — especially  as  tbat  life,  to  its  end,  was  mainly 
and  unweariodly  devoted  to  the  task  of  promoting  American  dis- 
covery and  colonization.  In  March  of  1611,  we  again  find  him,  in 
company  with  some  mercl  ants  of  London,  fitting  out  an  exjedition 
to  New  Kngland,  in  two  vessels,  one  of  which  he  commanded  in 
person.  By  the  la.st  of  April,  he  arrived  at  the  island  of  Manliegin, 
on  the  coast  of  Maine,  where  he  built  seven  boats,  and  made  an 
unsuccessful  attcmj-.t  at  whale-fushing.  The  crews,  with  much  IxHter 
success,  were  therefore  set  to  work  at  catching  and  curing  cod,  while 
Smith,  with  eight  men,  in  a  small  boat,  surveyed  and  mapped  out 
the  coast,  from  Penobscot  to  Cape  Cod.  In  his  cliart,  lie  :  cJ  mostly 
given  the  original  Indian  names,  but,  with  a  natural  desire  to  com- 
memorate his  own  adventures,  had  in.serted  a  few  others  drawn  from 
that  fertile  source.  Cape  Ann  was  called  Cape  Tr.agaliigzanda,  in 
honour  of  his  young  mistress  of  Constantinople,  and  the  Isles  of 
Shoals  were  laid  down  as  "Tlie  o  Turkes'  Heads."'  At  his  rcipiest, 
however.  Prince  (afterwards  king)  Charles,  changed  most  of  these 
names  to  those  of  Knglish  local ilie.*^,  which  arc  still  retained. 

Having  j^rocured  by  traffic  an  immense  quantity  of  beaver  and 
other  furs  fnnn  the  Indians,  (with  whom,  also,  he  h.ad  two  fights,) 
in  August  he  returned  to  England,  leaving  his  consort.  Captain 
Tiiomas  Hunt,  to  continue  the  fi.^hing  and  carry  tlie  cargo  to  Spain. 
That  scoundrel,  at  his  departure,  in  the  words  of  Smith,  "betraied 
fouro  and  twentic  of  those  poore  Salvages  aboord  hi.s  Ship,  and  most 
dishonestly  and  inhumanely,  for  their  kind  treatment  of  me  and  all 
our  men,  carried  them  with  hitn  to  MttUijo^'  (Malaga),  "and  there  for 
a  little  private  gaine  sold  those  silly  r5alvag<\«i  for  rials  of  eight;  but 
this  vilde  act  kept  hiiu  ever  afti-r  from  any  nuirc  imjiloiment  tt>  those 
parts."  '1\)  this  cruel  ind  treacherou.s  act,  as  to  those  of  a  sinular 
nature,  conimitted  by  the  French  in  their  voyages  to  Canada,  may 
bo  attrih'itr'd  much  of  the  ho.'<tility  experienced  by  later  comers  in 
settling  the  country.  • 

At  i'lyiiKtuth,  to  whicli  Smith  next  came,  ho  found  the  people 
still  "inten-stcd  in  the  dead  patent  of  this  unregarded  countn'y" 
(New  Kngland),  and  was  ca.sily  induced  to  undertake  u  voyage  for 
the  company  of  that  |)ort,  rejecting,  with  lionourablo  promptitude, 
the  proposals  of  the  Virginia  Compatiy,  who  would  now  ghidly  have 
availed  tiiem.selves  of  his  services.  In  Marcli,  lOlTt,  he  sailed  for 
Amc^rieu  with  two  small  vc.s.scl.'',  on  a  voyage  which  wjw  but  ono 


I    jiiUvii  ap*.'!!     -JTf^i"^  ■■• 


THE   SKTTLEMElsT   OK   VIIiOINlA. 


71 


series  of  mifiifortunes.  His  ship  being  wrecked  and  dismasted,  he 
was  compelled  to  put  back,  and  in  June,  in  a  little  vessel  of  only 
sixty  tons,  resumed  the  enterprise.  Falling  in  with  an  English 
pirate  of  thirty-six  guns,  he  defied  her  so  bravely  with  only  four, 
that  the  crew  were  amazed  until  they  recognized  Smith,  v/ith  whom 
some  of  them  had  served  3'ears  before,  probably  in  the  P^astern  wars. 
They  begged  him  to  take  the  ct)mmand  of  their  ship  (which  th.ey 
had  seized  at  Tunis,)  but  he  declinetl  the  offer,  and  pursued  his  voy- 
age. Near  Fayol,  he  had  a  fight  with  two  French  pirates,  whom  he 
compelled  his  crew  to  resist,  threatening  to  blow  up  the  vessel  rather 
than  yield,  as  long  as  there  was  a  charge  of  powder  left  aboard. 
Escaping  from  this  danger,  at  Flores  he  was  captured  by  four  French 
men-i'f-w;ir,  the  commander  of  which,  despite  his  commission  un<ler 
the  Great  Seal  of  England,  plundered  his  little  vessel,  and  then  dis- 
missed her,  reserving  Smith,  as  a  precaution  against  his  revenge, 
as  a  priijoner.  During  the  whole  summer,  these  rovers  cruise<l  about, 
capturing  and  plundering  many  vessels,  keeping  Smith  a  prisoner 
in  the  cabin,  when  they  took  any  English  vessels,  but  gladly  avail- 
ing themselves  of  his  courage  and  seamanship  in  their  fights  with 
the  Si^aniards. 

The  very  different  light  in  which  the  worthy  captain  regarded 
these  several  transactions',  may  best  be  inferred  from  his  own  de- 
scription of  the  capture  of  two  prizes  of  the  different  nations.  *'  The 
next  wee  tooke,"  he  says  (in  a  journal,  which,  with  a  particular 
d('scri])ti()n  of  New  England,  he  wrote  aboard  the  BVenchman),  "was 
a  s!ii:ill  Englishman  of  Poole,  from  Xtw  found  land:  the  great  Cahljcn 
at  this  present  was  my  Piison,  from  whence  I  could  see  thcin  pillage 
these  poorc  men  of  all  they  had  and  halfe  their  fislie;  when  hec  was 
gof.e  thev  sold  his  poore  clothes  at  the  Main  Afiust  by  an  outer}','" 
(auction),  "  which  scarce  gave  each  man  seven  pence  a  peece."  Marl 
the  change  in  his  tone  in  narrating  the  capture  of  a  rich  SpaMis'i 
(i.illi  ■•u — "a  Wt'i<t  Indies  man  of  warre,  a  forcMoono  wee  foti  dit  with 
lirr  and  then  tooke  her,  with  one  thousand,  one  Hundred  'I'dcA 
lillie  chests  of  Cutchanele,  fourtecne  coffers  of  wedges  of  Silver,  eight 
thousand  Kialls  of  Eight,  and  six  coffers  of  the  king  of  iSpiine'a 
treasure,  Usides  tJie  >jood  jnllaje  and  rich  Cvffijrs  of  muuy  rich  I^ir-tsen- 
(jfrs.  Two  moneths  they  kept  me  in  this  manner  to  inanag.  their 
fi^dits  airaiiist  the  Spani.irds  and  bee  a  prisotier  when  t'.iey  to<:<ke  any 
EuL'iish."  The  very  imperfect  tone  of  public  morality  at  this  ago 
is  Hulliciently  evinced  in  the  complacency  with  which  Smith— judtly 


i 


nn 


72 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


» 


regarued  as  an  uncommonly  honest  and  upright  man — views  these 
Bcencs  of  piratical  plunder — always  provided  that  the  subject  of  them 
were  not  an  Englishman. 

His  captors  promised  him  ten  thousand  crowns  as  the  reward  of 
his  skill  and  valour;  yet  when  they  arrived  at  llocholle,  knowing 
his  detcmiiiuHl  character,  and  dreading  his  vengeance,  still  kept  him 
prisoner.     In  a  terrible  storm,  however,  which  dr'.>ve  tlicin  all  under 
hatches,  (and  which,  that  same  night,  destroyed  the  shi[),  with  half 
her  comjtany),  he  made  his  escape  in  a  small  boat,  and,  after  being 
flriven  to  sea  and  enduring  great  peril  and  sullering,  waa  found,  half 
dead,  by  some  Prowlers,  on  au  oozy  island,  and  was  brought  iishoro 
and  kindly  relieved. 

licturning  home,  he  published  a  book  on  New  England,  which  ho 
had  written  to  beguile  the  weariness  of  his  captivity,  and,  with 
extraordinary  ac*ivity,  travelling  through  the  west  of  England,  dis- 
tributed seven  thousand  copies  of  it  among  people  of  note  and  influ- 
ence. "But  all,"  he  says,  "availed  no  more  than  to  hew  rocks  w  ith 
Oyster  shells."  lie  received,  however,  an  abundance  of  prouiises  of 
aid  in  the  enterprise  of  settling  that  country,  and  was  invested  by 
the  Plymouth  company  with  tiie  title  of  "Admiral  of  New  England." 
These  encouragements  all  ended  in  words,  no  active  steps  being  takeu 
for  the  furtherance  of  the  object  which  he  had  so  much  at  heart. 

A  most  interesting  interview  l)etween  Smith  and  Tocahontas,  about 
this  time,  is  recorded.  That  noble-hearted  princess,  despite  the  great 
ulfcction  which  her  father  bore  to  her,  had  incurred  his  disj)leasure 
by  her  repeated  acta  of  kindness  in  behalf  of  the  English,  and  was 
living  exiled  from  his  court,  under  the  protection  of  Jajiazaws,  chief 
of  the  I'otomacs.  That  treacherous  dignitary,  bribed  by  a  copper 
kettle,  «iitrap])ed  her  on  board  the  v»'ssel  of  Captain  Argall,  who, 
notwithstanding  her  tears  and  lamentations,  made  her  jtrisoner,  and 
to<jk  her  to  .laine.stown — ii, forming  l»er  father  that  she  could  be  ran- 
somed only  by  the  delivery  of  numeroiw  arms,  &e.,  which  his  p  nj.lo 
had  HU^len  from  the  English.  "This  vnwelcome  newes,"  sjiys  the 
chronicler,  "much  troubled  Poivhatan^  because  lice  loved  both  hi.i 
daughter  wid  our  commodities  well."  AAe."  an  alternation  (^f  war 
and  negotiation,  the  matter  was  at  hist  haj>pily  settled  in  a  itianner 
more  agreeable  than  either. 

"Long  before  tiiin,"  continues  til.  ..irrative,  "M.ister  loKu  llolfo. 
on  honest  (.ientleman  and  of  ;:<>«h1  Urlmvior,  had  l^ciie  in  k/v  j 
P<"ahonta.«',  and  .she  with  him,  whicl»  resulution  .>ir  'J'jjomai*  i)ttle 


^^-D 


THE  ShTTLEMKNT   OF   VlliGIMA. 


73 


well  approvctl;  the  bruit  (report)  of  tliis  mariage  soon  CAiiie  to  the 
knowledge  of  PoirJiata)),  a  thing  aoceiitable  unto  him,  as  apj)earcd 
by  his  sudden  consent,  for  within  ten  daics,  he  sent  Opacliiitco^  an 
old  Vncle  of  hers,  -uid  two  of  his  sons,  to  see  the  manner  of  the 
niariage,  and  to  doe  in  that  bchalfe  what  they  were  requested,  for 
the  confirmation  thereof,  as  his  deputie;  which  was  accordingly  done 
about  the  ih-st  of  ^\ prill,"  (UU3),  "and  ever  since  we  have  had 
friendly  trade  and  commerce"  (intercourse)  "  with  Powhatan  himself^;, 
as  all  his  subjects." 

In  1016,  the  Lady  Eebccca  (as  she  was  now  christened),- with  her 
husband  and  child,  accompanied  Sir  Thomas  to  England.  She  had 
learned  Knglish,  and  adopted  Christianity,  and  '*was  become,"  saya 
the  narrator,  with  unconscious  national  satire,  "very  fornndl  and 
eivill  after  our  English  manner.'  Cnj'tain  Smith,  on  learning  of 
her  arrival,  lost  no  time  in  conunending  her  to  the  attention*  of  per- 
sons of  influence,  and,  in  a  studied  memorial  to  the  queen,  recapitu- 
lated the  many  services  rendered  by  Pocahontas  to  himself  and  to 
the  Virginian  colony,  and  besought  her  favour  for  the  interesting 
btranger.  "During  the  time  of  two  or  three  yeeres,  she,  next  under 
God,"  he  says,  "was  still  the  instrument  to  })reserve  this  colonic  from 
deaili,  laniine,  and  utter  confusion,  which,  if  in  those  days  it  had 
once  been  dissolved,  Viryiitia  might  have  laino  as  it  was  at  our 
hi-st  arrivall  to  this  day." 

I'nliappily,  on  account  of  the  ridiculous  jealousy  of  James  L,  (who, 
it  is  .aaid,  exhibited  much  indignation  aganist  llolfe,  for  having  ])re. 
sumed,  being  a  subject,  to  intermarry  with  the  blood-royal)  the 
cai)tain,  when  he  went  to  see  her,  fearing,  by  too  great  familiarity, 
to  prejudice  her  interest  at  court,  thought  best  to  salute  her  with 
ceremonious  gravity.  At  this  strange  reception,  her  afleetionate  heart 
was  at  once  grieved  and  indignant.  AVith  a  specien  of  Indian  sul- 
lenness,  and  "without  any  word,"  he  says,  "she  turned  about,  ob- 
scured her  face,  as  not  seeming  well-eontented.  In  that  humour," 
he  continues,  "her  husband,  with  divers  others,  we  all  left  her  two 
or  three  hourcs,"  (how  could  he!)  "repenting  myself  to  have  writ 
slice  could  spcake  English.  *  *  T-ut  not  long  after  she 

began  to  taike,  and  remembered  mee  well  what  courtesies  sliec  had 
done;  saying,  'You  did  promise  J'uuhaUtn  what  was  yours  should 
bee  hi.s,  and  he  the  like  to  you;  you  "ailed  him  hither,  being  in  hia 
land  a  Ftranger,  and  by  the  same  reasvjn  so  must  J  doe  you;'  which 
though  I  would  have  excused,  that  I  durst  not  al'ow  of  that  title, 


i 


mm 


r" 


74 


AMEIiICA  ILLUSTKATED. 


because  she  was  a  King's  daughter,  with  a  well  set  countenance  she 
said,  '  "Were  you  not  afraid  to  come  into  my  father's  countrie  and 
cause  feare  in  him  and  all  his  people  (but  mce),  and  feare  you  here 
I  should  call  you  father?  I  tell  you  then  I  will,  and  you  shall  call 
mce  childe,  and  so  I  will  bee  for  ever  and  ever  your  countryman.'" 

This  prudent  conduct  of  Smith  and  her  other  friends,  it  would 
seem,  allayed  the  absurd  jealous}'  of  James;  for,  he  continues,  "it 
pleased  both  the  King  and  Quoene's  maicsty  honorably  to  estecme 
ner,  accompanied  by  that  honorable  Lady,  the  Lady  De  la  Warre, 
and  that  honorable  Lord,  her  husband,  and  divers  other  persons  of 
good  quality,  both  publi  \ely  at  the  maskes  and  otherwise,  to  her 
great  satisfaction  and  content,  which  doubtless  she  would  have  de- 
served, had  she  ever  lived  to  arrive  in  Virginia,"  She  died  at 
Gravesend,  on  her  way  home,  in  the  following  year,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two,  leaving  a  son,  from  whom  a  numerous  race  of  dcseend- 
ant,'^  have  been  f  ^rived.  "Among  them  was  the  celebrated  John 
Itandolph  of  li'^'n,  •'<:; — justly  prouder  of  his  descent  from. the  old 
imperial  race  of  l'c\,  'latan,  illustrated  by  the  more  gentle  heroism  of 
his  daughi  ',  flan  ;•  could  have  been  of  the  noblest  derivation  from 
European  aiun::  try  " 

In  1617,  Capti  ii  >jiith  had  been  assured  by  the  Plymouth  '^:^m- 
pany  that  he  shou-t;  be  sent  out,  with  a  fleet  of  twenty  ships,  to 
I'oiind  a  colony  in  New  Kngland;  but  this  promise  never  was  ful- 
filled, though  he  was  unwearied  in  his  exertions  to  incite  his  coun- 
trymen to  American  enterprise.  When,  in  1622,  news  came  of  the 
terrible  ma.ssacrc  devised  by  Opechancanough,  (sec  chapter  XI II.)  ho 
proposed  to  the  Virginia  Company  that  if  they  would  but  allow 
him  an  hundred  and  thirty  men,  "to  iin})loy  onely  in  ranging  the 
Countries  and  tormenting"  (harassing)  "the  Salvages,"  their  whole 
territory  should  be  kept  in  peace  and  security;  but  they  rejected 
the  oiler,  ns  involving  a  necessity  for  too  great  expcn.se.  Another 
terrible  massacre,  a  few  years  later,  was  the  result  of  this  short- 
sighted policy. 

In  the  following  year,  we  find  the  captain  before  a  ro3'al  commis- 
sion, giving  his  evidence  and  opinion  eotiee:  iig  :  .e  unfortunate 
colony  with  nmeh  shrewdness,  candour,  and  ch:;rity.  Of  the  h^-*  ••w 
years  of  his  life  little  is  known.  He  lived,  v-  i3  believed,  in  quiet 
repose  in  the  city  of  London,  cinplcyed  chiefly  in  writing  and  j)uh. 
'.ishing.  lie  was  engaged  on  a  "  History  of  the  Sea,"  when,  in  1631, 
*ieath  closed  a  career  in  which  utility  and  romance  were  perliaps 


THE   SETTLEMEiNT   UE    VIUGINIA, 


75 


more  close' y  and  continuously  united  than  in  any  other  of  vLk-Ja  a 
record  has  survived. 

"In  the  whole  history  of  adventure,  discovery,  and  expIoraJikyM, 
tliere  nre  few  names  mure  honourable  or  more  dtservediy  fjiOMMs 
than  lh;it  of  Captain  John  Smith,  To  us  he  has  always  a[  jpeasntd 
(to  his  very  name  and  title)  the  linest  and  most  perfect  exempLidr  .yf 
a  bold  Englishman  that  ever  figured  on  the  stage  of  the  worliJ.  lu 
hii  character,  bravery,  fortitude,  sagacity,  and  sound  cornm.;ri,  *.;!uae 
uere  so  happily  tempered  and  united  as  to  command  lUiU^^j'u.vii 
respect;  while  the  tolerably-infused  tincture  of  impetuosity,  jjr'rjia- 
dice,  and  self-will,  seems  only  to  lend  a  piquancy  to  hid  Wc>n>iji^;r 
truits,  and  more  liuely  to  set  off  the  national  charactf  ridticat  Mis 
love  of  enterjtrisc  and  his  daring,  chivalrous  spirit,  were  trinajjitj'tal 
with  a  judgment,  moderation,  and  humanity,  which,  in  s.j  ;■  ._•  ^  a 
career,  have  never  been  surpassed.     The  cutter-otf  of  Tur!v  •  is, 

the  desperate  Indian  fighter,  and  the  sworn  foe  to  the  Sp .  .  jj 
ill  compassion  and  sympathy  when  the  'Silly  Salvages'  aru  .v  .  .ij.>- 
ped  by  his  treacherous  countryman,  or  when  the  'poore  cUao&a'  *j( 
'a small  Englishman'  are  sold  by  outcry  at  the  main-ma^t  of  a  jjioie. 

••In  early  youth,  his  grand  passion  was  ibr  fighting  and  recKKwai, 
no  matter  on  what  field,  &o  that  a  man  of  honour  uiigLt  encTTi'-;  \u 
maturer  years,  the  noble  passion  for  founding  nations  and  ."_ 
civilization  took  a  yet  lirmer  possession  of  his  soul.  '  Wh.j ' 
claims  in  his  manly  address  to  the  idlers  of  England,  ■ 
desire  more  content  that  hath  small  means,  or  only  hid  r 
advance  Lis  furtunes,  than  to  tread  and  plant  that  ground  c ;  :_aiaii 
purchasc*d  by  the  hazard  of  his  life;  if  lice  have  but  the  caeK«  of 
vertue  and  magnanimi'tic,  what  to  such  a  mind  can  bee  rnon^  ;.l^ist»- 
ant  than  planting  ond  building  a  foundation  for  his  poa-i  •  -.  :^A 
from  the  rude  earth  by  God's  blessing  and  his  owne  induitrj,  waia- 
out  prejudice  to  any;  if  hec  have  any  graine  of  faith  or  Zriaic  in 
Religion,  what  can  hcc  doe  lesse  hurtfuU  to  any  or  more  a^rccaye 
to  Gixl,  than  to  scekc  to  coinert  those  poore  Salva^^ea  to  kfa-^/w 
Christ  and  humanity,  whose  labors,  with  discretion,  will  sr  :  . 
re-.vard  thy  charge  and  paine;  what  so  truly  sutes  with  h 
h'jnesty  as  the  discovering  things  vnknowne,  erecting  Townciv,  yji*- 
pling  tx>untrie-a,  infurming  the  ignorant,  reforming  things  tuyiHt, 
iciiching  vertue  and  gainc  to  our  native  mother  Country;  to  fiud 
imploiinent  for  those  that  are  idle,  because  they  know  not 
to  doe;  so  fairc  from  wronging  any,  as  to  cause  poatcrilj  u» 


%- 

to 


m 


^v-4 


76 


AMERICA   ILLUSTKATKD 


member  them,  and  remembering  tlice,  ever  lienor  that  rcmenibraace 
with  praise.' 

"The  full  merits  of  Smith,  as  the  earliest  and  most  indefntigablt 
promoter  of  the  colonization  of  New  England,  have  never  been  ade- 
v']uatfly  a}iprcciatcd.  By  his  personal  exertions  in  the  survey,  delin- 
eation, and  dcscri{)tion  of  that  neglected  region,  and  by  the  continual 
publications  which,  at  great  i)ains  and  cxpinise,  he  industriously  cir- 
cuhitcd  in  England,  he  awakened  thcuimblie  interest  in  an  enterprise 
which,  otherwise,  for  many  years  might  have  been  slighted  and 
defened.  lie  lived  to  see  the  foundations  of  a  great  nation  firmly 
laid,  both  at  the  south  and  the  north,  and,  though  like  many  otli«-r 
great  projectors  and  labourers  in  the  same  field  of  action,  lie  reaped 
no  j)ersonal  advantage  (but  rather  much  loss)  from  his  exertion  and 
enterprise,  he  continued,  to  the  day  of  his  death,  to  regard  the  two 
colonics  with  the  fond  partiality  of  a  parent,  and  to  do  all  he  could 
for  their  advancement.  ^Jly  that  acquaintance  I  have  with  them,'  he 
writes,  'I  call  theni  my  Cliildren,  for  they  have  beene  my  Wife,  my 
Hawks,  Hounds,  my  Cards,  my  Dice,  aiitl  in  totall,  my  best  content, 
as  iiidiHerent  to  my  heart  as  my  left  hand  to  my  right.  And  not- 
withstanding all  those  miracles  of  disasters  which  have  crossed  both 
them  and  me,  yet,  were  there  not  an  Englishman  remaining  (as,  God 
be  thanked,  notwithstanding  the  massacre,  there  are  some  thousands); 
I  would  yet  begin  againe  with  as  small  meanes  as  I  did  at  first,  not 
that  I  have  any  secret  encouragement,  (I  protest)  more  than  lament- 
able experience,'  &c. 

"It  only  remains  to  add  that,  although,  so  far  as  Ave  are  infurmed, 
never  married,  thp  gallant  captain  was,  and  deservedly,  a  general 
favourite  with  the  ladies.  There  seems  to  have  been  a  certain  man- 
hood and  kindliness  in  his  very  look,  which,  almost  at  a  glance, 
conciliated  to  him  the  good-will  of  the  fairer  and  weaker  [wriion  of 
humanity.  These  favours,  so  flattering  to  the  natural  vanity  of  ma'j, 
ho  bears  worthily,  and  with  no  offence  to  the  givers,  ever  speaking 
with  the  utmost  modesty  and  gratit\ide  of  the  kindness  he  had  so 
often  experienced  at  their  hands.  His  acknowledgment  to  the  ucx 
(introduced  in  his  dedication  to  the  Duchess  of  Richmond)  reminda 
us  of  tiie  celebrated  eulogy  pronounced  by  Ledyard.  'I  eonfes.so,» 
he  writes,  *my  hand,  though  able  to  wield  a  weapon  among  the 
Barbarous,  yet  well  may  tremble  in  handling  a  pen  before  so  many 
ludirivns  *  *  Yet  my  comfort  is,  that  heretofore  honorable  and 
vertuous  Ladies,  and  comparable  but  among  them  selves,  have  oflcrcd 


J 


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«-.';j'.i«.."i  * 


i»'k 


"•       ••_•!•    .       HIP- 


•iMr 


'^•Si,'. 


•,  !'f'     ^    ..,  ifit  'Vi^u^jr'  /""i'     inJiUt  have   1 1 

'    r,'.''      liv  a**:^'-  :     few  i}i<r  f  -iVKk'   .rtsoi  ;    t.  ••  m  > 

..i%  ^-,lt.  A.   Ui;^  ,M/)jrai  .■.;\i  t:W   ■    '/tU,  '  nrf,  thuUyU   .  .^?  ;.;...  I     •: 

V-  h'     r«;,  .'(•toffl    »d  li-  •»  !     r^  M'.  >.Ut:.«c#mc  :  .Id  of  ;i'tinn,  1.-:  r  .^  •■•i 

''■n)"l.-  .  ►  ^t^>:%^.  :■"      •    i-if '.^f  luit  Ut     ..,  t'j  !'.ir;:rd  th«  iwo 

'. "  !i  i>.«rc!<t,  at'<i  i"*  do  i.l  he  could 

vi4^A:^({V|ttigt]ifcee  I  iux'.>\  %iih  tUem,'  he 

iif«m» JW; tiwf  bivc  tj<<;i..j  iQv  Wife,  my 

v\  aud  in  totall,  my  IrcX. content, 

■       '       liv  right.     Aud  not- 

'  •  -J*.  God 

'*  v;.!.  d  yciJ  U'giU  ag.uu^^yitU  »Hiir,iri^  >n^Ci»^.at  1  did  at  thst,  not 
liju  I  'itt'flSI  »ny  5.,cfif*  »ific«)an\geBr.  :  i,  'f  frot^i)  more  tlkiti  j-^-i.^-ut 

"It  only  retfjwna  to  hm  I  ih;  u  a;thou-h,  so  far'rw  \re  are  inforvt-.i, 

-  ■■^.«t'f  tni-ri?vi    th"  s- 'J  Jit.  captaJ  i  x,^,  axu^.^cAi^^r'-f^  a  gor.era". 

favi^iuuto  >  'I  he! :  sjyeu:^  to  bAVs  '"     .  *  -  < . '  •:■>  man- 

"•o^  still  •  v«rj^Qok,  *'lii«bi  Ik.i  1  rt  *-  »i^»cd^ 

'l».atcv  u>  '.Uij  Ui  tho  fii'rer  and  *'e..^^  r  ?•  frtioftO^ 

*49lt  vvt':!hi!y,  a7\.l  with  iv--  oiVbnr*  ♦•^  •'-  i-.vpra^  ©ver  8p'"V  '  :• 


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tsl'i;^ to«  ftilei 'rated '^u . 


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33  WKT  MAIN  STRUT 

WHSTIR.N.Y    UStO 

(716)  a73-4S03 


^<^' 
^ 


TUE   SETTLEMENT   OF  VIRGINIA. 


77 


me  rescue  and  protection  in  ray  greatest  dangers ;  even  in  forraino 
parts  I  have  felt  reliefe  from  that  sex.— Tlie  beauteous  Lady  Traga- 
bigzanda,  when  I  was  a  slave  to  the  Turkes,  did  all  slie  could  to 
secure  me'  («.  e.  make  me  secure).  'When  I  overcame  the  Basliaio 
of  X'dbritz,  in  Tartaria,  the  charitable  Lady  Callamata  supplied  my 
necessities.  In  the  vtmost  of  many  extremities  that  blessed  Poka- 
lu-ntas,  the  great  King's  daughter  of  Virginia,  oft  saved  my  life. 
When  I  escaped  the  crucltie  of  Pirats  and  most  furious  stormcs,  a 
lonsr  time  alone  in  a  small  Boat  at  Sea,  and  driven  ashore  in  Prance, 
the  good  Lady  Madam  Chanoyes  bountifully  assisted  me.'  "* 


tjin>^xXiijXi    <A<x  Xo 

ARRIVAL  OP  GATES. — MISERABLE  CONDITION  OP  THE  COLONY. 

—  JAMESTOWN    DESERTED. ARRIVAL   OF   LORD   DELAWARE: 

OF    SIR   THOMAS    DALE.  —  EXERTIONS    OF    THE   COMPANY. 

—  INCREASED  IMMIg'raTION.  —  THE  CULTURE  OF  TOBACCO 

INTRODUCED,  AND  EAGERLY  PURSUED.  —  TYRANNY  OF 

ARGALL:  HIS  DISPLACEMENT. — GREAT  ACCESSION  OF 

IMMIGRANTS.  —  WIVES  PURCHASED  WITH  TOBACCO. 

—  LIBERAL  CONCESSIONS  TO  THE  COLONISTS. 


The  lamentable  condition  of  the  Virginian  colony,  after  the  de- 
parture of  Smith,  has  been  described.  Thirty  of  the  settlers,  seizing 
a  ship,  luul  turned  pirates,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  remainder 
perished  of  famine,  disease  or  Indian  hostility.  When  Sir  Thomas 
Gates  and  his  companions,  who  liad  been  wrecked  on  Bernmda, 
arrived  at  Virginia  in  vessels  of  their  own  construction,  (May  2-lth, 
1610,)  out  of  fuur  hundred  and  ninety,  whom  Smith  had  left,  only 
sixty  remained,  and  those  in  a  condition  of  such  misery  that  their 
end  was  almost  at  hand.  There  seemed  no  alternative  but  to  sail 
with  all  speed  for  Newfoundland,  and  there  seek  assistance  from  the 
fishermen;  and,  accordingly,  early  in  June,  (resisting  the  mi.sor;ible 
desire  of  the  settlers  to  fire  their  deserted  dwellings,)  Gates,  with 
bis  people  and  the  relics  of  the  Virginian  colony,  j)rocceded  dowa 
the  river. 

•  Di«coTcn.'r8,  &c.,  of  America. 


78 


AMERICA  ILLUSTEATED. 


The  very  next  morning  (June  10th,  1610)  they  learned  that  Lord 
Delaware  had  arrived  on  the  coast  with  supplies,  and,  putting  about, 
returned  with  all  speed  to  Jamestown.  The  new  governor,  a  man 
of  high  character  and  good  judgment,  by  his  wholesome  rule,  and 
by  the  supplies  which  he  brought,  soon  restored  comparative  com- 
fort to  the  little  colony,  which,  at  this  time,  including  the  company 
of  Gates  and  his  own  emigrants,  did  not  exceed  two  hundred  souls ; 
but  on  account  of  illness,  was  compelled,  the  same  year,  to  quit 
Virginia,  leaving  the  administration  in  the  hands  of  Mr,  Percy.  In 
May  of  the  next  year,  (1611,)  Sir  Thomas  Dale,  dispatched  thither 
with  fresh  supplies,  arrived,  and  assumed  the  government. 

Sir  Thomas  Gates,  who  had  also  repaired  to  England,  by  his 
urgent  representations,  excited  the  company  to  fresh  exertions, 
and  in  August  of  the  same  year,  with  six  ships,  bearing  three  hun- 
dred more  emigrants  and  a  hundred  cattle,  he  arrived  at  Jamestown, 
and  assumed  the  office  of  governor.  The  colony  now  numbered 
seven  hundred. 

In  1612,  by  a  fresh  patent,  the  Bermudas  and  all  other  islands 
within  three  hundred  leagues  of  Virginia,  were  included  in  that 
province,  and  lotteries  were  authorized  for  the  benefit  of  the  com- 
pany. The  prosperity  of  tlic  colony  improved,  and  it^i  peaceful 
relations  with  the  Indians  seemed  secured  by  the  marriage  of  liolfe 
and  Pocahontas,  which  took  place  about  this  time — a  propitious 
event,  resulting  in  the  alliance  not  only  of  Pouhatan  and  his  people, 
but  of  the  Chickahominies  and  other  tribes. 

In  the  account  of  Acadia,  mention  has  been  made  of  the  atrocious 
and  piratical  expedition  from  Virginia,  under  Captain  Samuel  Ar- 
gall,  destroying  the  little  colony  of  Port  Royal,  the  first  settlement 
of  the  French  in  North  America,  That  unprincipled  commander, 
on  his  return,  also  entered  tlie  harbour  of  Manhattan  (Xew  York), 
and  enforced  a  show  of  submission  from  the  little  colony  of  Hol- 
landers inhabiting  the  '  ^"rd  of  that  name.  In  1614,  Sir  Thomas, 
api)ointing  Dale  as  go  or,  returned  to  England;  and  tlie  latter, 
two  years  afterwards,  leaving  in  turn  George  Ycardley  a.s  do{»uty, 
followed  the  example.  By  far  the  most  memorable  fact  in  this 
stage  of  the  colony's  j)rogrcss,  is  the  commencement  of  the  culture  of 
tobacco,  the  use  of  which,  adopted  from  the  Indians,  had  been  intro- 
duced into  England,  With  such  industry  did  the  prosjjcct  of  a 
profitable  reward  for  lal^our  ins{)ire  the  colonists,  that  the  very 
streets  of  Jamestown  were  planted  with  tobacco. 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF   VIKGINIA. 


79 


In  1617,  the  office  of  deputy-governor  was  conferred  by  the  com- 
pany on  tliat  rash  and  unscrupulous  man,  Samuel  Argall;  and  the 
deatli  of  Lord  Delaware — wiio,  embarking  with  a  considerable  com- 
pany, tiie  same  year,  for  Virginia,  died  ou  the  voyage — left  his 
natural  tyranny  and  arrogance  without  a  check.  The  colonists,  ere 
lung,  were,  in  elfect,  completely  enslaved  l^y  their  arbitrary  governor, 
who  used  his  office  only  as  a  means  for  his  private  aggrandizement, 
and  their  very  lives  were  in  danger  from  his  fury.  But  on  the  report 
of  these  excesses  reaching  England,  the  culprit,  after  a  spirited  con- 
test between  the  different  factions  in  the  company,  was  disjjlaced, 
and  Yeardley,  whose  mild  and  benevolent  temper  had  made  him 
popular  with  the  settlers,  was  appointed  to  the  command.  His  just 
and  considerate  rule  soon  restored  quiet. 

^rhe  c<-)mpany,  desirous  to  avoid  such  abuses  for  the  future,  had 
:;hecked  the  authority  of  the  governor  by  that  of  the  douncil,  and 
actually  admitted  the  colonists  to  a  species  of  self-government.  The 
governor,  with  the  council,  and  certain  representatives  of  the  people, 
were  permitted  to  enact  some  laws,  which,  liowever,  were  not  to  be 
valid,  unless  ratified  by  the  corporation  at  home.  The  officers  of 
the  company,  and  in  especial,  Sir  Edwm  Sandys,  the  treasurer,  sup- 
ported by  the  liberal  party,  now  used  great  exertions  for  the  increase 
of  the  colony  and  the  extension  of  its  liberties.  In  1619,  there  were 
only  six  hundred  settlers  in  Virginia,  and  during  a  single  year  that 
"nergetic  officer  dispatched  thither  more  than  twelve  hundred  addi- 
tional emigrants.  An  hundred  and  fifty  young  women,  of  good 
character,  were  shipped  to  the  province,  and  were  married  witli  great 
readiness — the  husbands  paying  the  company  each  an  hundred  and 
twenty  pounds  of  tobacco  or  more,  for  the  expense  of  their  trans- 
portation. By  1021,  throe  thousand  five  hundred  emigrants  had 
reached  Virginia;  and,  in  the  same  year,  with  liberality  and  fore- 
sight, rare  indeed  for  the  age,  the  com{)any  made  an  ordinance 
conferring  on  that  province  a  settled  and,  in  a  manner,  independent 
government.  The  governor  and  council,  indeed,  were  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  company,  but  a  legislative  assembly  was  to  be  chosen 
by  the  jicople,  with  power  to  enact  laws,  subject  to  the  approval  of 
the  company — those  emanating  from  London,  in  like  manner,  to  be 
valid  only  on  ratification  by  the  assembly.  Courts  of  law,  strictly 
following  those  of  England,  were  required  to  be  instituted,  and  the 
great  blessing  of  civil  liberty — as  great,  perhaps,  as  that  enjoyed  by 
Englishmen  at  home — was  secured  to  the  first  American  colony.  This 
Vol  IV.— 3i 


80 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


magnanimous  concession,  due  to  the  generous  efforts  of  Soutliamp- 
ton,  Sandys,  and  others  of  the  hberal  party,  was  one  of  the  first  and 
most  important  fruits  of  that  spirit  of  progress  at  that  time  just 
beginning  to  make  itself  felt  in  the  English  councils. 


Ij   JjJi   lb  ill   iL     X    uu   uui      lAi   iL   iL   X  • 

WYATT  GOVERNOR. NEGRO  SLAVERY  INTRODUCED. DEATH 

OF  POWHATAN  AND  SUCCESSION  OF  OTEC  H  ANC  A  NOUO  n. 

PLOT  DEVISED  BY  THE  LATTER. TERRIBLE  MASSACRE 

OF  THE  ENGLISH. DEPRESSION  OF  THE  COLONY. 

USURPATION  OF  THE  PATENT  BY  JAMES  I. PRU- 
DENT POLICY  TOWARD  THE  COLONISTS, 

Sir  Francis  Wyatt,  bearing  the  invaluable  gift  of  a  constitution, 
arrived  in  Virginia,  as  goveruor,  in  1621.  The  year  previous,  un- 
happily, had  been  distinguished  by  the  first  introduction  of  slavery 
into  the  colony — a  Dutch  vessel  having  entered  the  James  River, 
and  brought  twenty  negroes  for  sale.  For  a  long  time,  indeed,  this 
nefarious  traffic  made  little  progress — being  principally  carried  on 
by  the  people  who  commenced  it,  and  being  rather  connived  at  than 
favoured  by  the  government  of  the  province. 

The  agricultural  progress  of  Virginia  had  been  grievously  retarded 
by  unsuccessful  efforts  at  the  production  of  wine  and  silk — articles 
of  luxury,  the  least  suited  to  a  new  territory  and  a  sparse  population. 
The  profitable  culture  of  tobacco,  and  its  sudden  importance  as  the 
staple  of  Virginian  agriculture,  have  been  noticed;  and  that  of 
cotton,  first  commenced  as  an  experiment,  in  1621,  marks  an  era  in 
the  history  of  American  agriculture  vastly  more  important  yet. 

King  Powliatan,  who,  after  the  English  alliance  of  his  daughter, 
bad  been  the  firm  friend  of  the  colonists,  died  full  of  years,  in  1018, 
the  year  after  the  death  of  Pocahontas.  Opechancanough,  his 
younger  brother,  succeeded  him  in  the  government  of  thirty  tribea 
which  he  had  ruled.  Apprehensions  of  Indian  hostility,  from  a  long 
interval  of  peace,  had  gradually  died  out,  and  the  settlers,  eager  for 
Ihc  cultivation  of  tobacco,  continually  pushed  their  plantations  further 
into  the  wilderness  and  more  remote  from  mutual  aid.    So  completely 


THE    ti  E  T  T  L  £  Al  J-  N  T    U  F    V  1  ]i  U  1  N  1 A . 


8i 


was  ,i])prehcnsion  alla^-ed,  that  fire-arms,  to  furnish  which  to  tho 
savages  had  formerly  been  deiioun  ;u  as  an  offence  worthy  of  death, 
were  now  freely  suppheJ  them  for  hunting  and  fowling. 

It  is  not  easy  to  arrive  at  the  causes  which  induced  the  Indian 
population,  apparently  so  friendly  and  confiding,  to  resolve  on  an 
indiscriminate  massacre  of  the  English.  Doubtless,  like  all  other 
native  tribes,  they  were  jealous  of  continual  intrusions  on  their 
ancient  domain.  It  is  said,  also,  that  Opechancanough  was  mortally 
ofl'ended  by  the  killing  of  one  of  his  favourite  councillors,  called 
"Jack  of  the  Feather."  He  may  also  have  remembered,  with  deep 
vindictiveness,  how  Captain  Smith,  many  years  before,  had  held  him 
"  by  the  hayre  of  his  head  "  before  his  assembled  warriors.  Certainly, 
with  almost  incredible  secrecy  and  concert,  he  and  his  people  plotted 
the  destruction  of  the  whites.  On  the  22d  of  March,  1622,  about 
noon,  the  Indians,  who,  up  to  the  last  moment,  maintained  the  ap- 
pearance of -cordiality  and  friendship,  suddenly  and  simultaneously 
fell  on  the  English  settlements  in  every  quarter.  In  a  single  hour, 
three  hundred  and  forty-seven  of  the  colonists,  including  six  of  the 
council,  were  massacred;  and  Jamestown,  with  some  adjoining  plan- 
tations, was  saved  only  by  the  timely  warning  of  an  Indian  who 
wished  to  rescue  an  English  friend  from  the  intended  extermination. 
The  savages,  who  seem  to  have  manifested  extraordinary  ferocity,  in 
many  instances,  rose  from  the  very  tables  which  had  been  spread 
for  their  dinners,  to  murder  their  unsuspecting  hosts.  "Neither 
yet,"  says  the  old  chronicler,  "did  these  beasts  spare  those  among 
the  rest  well  knowne  unto  them,  from  whom  they  had  daily  received 
many  benefits,  but  spitefully  also  massacred  them  without  any  re- 
morse or  pitie;  being  in  this  more  fell  than  Lions  and  Dragons, 
which  (as  Histories  record)  have  preserved  their  Benefactors;  such 
is  the  force  of  good  deeds,  though  done  to  cruell  Beasts,  to  take 
liumanitie  upon  them;  but  these  miscreants  put  on  a  more  unnatur- 
all  brutish  ne.sse  than  beasts,"  &c. 

Great  discouragement  fell  on  the  afilicted  colony.  The  plantations 
were  reduced  to  a  tenth  of  their  number.  Sickness  prevailed,  and 
the  planters  were  compelled  to  direct  their  attention  from  agriculture 
to  war  with  the  enemy.  The  mother-country,  with  honourable 
promptitude,  contributed  liberally  to  the  aid  and  comfort  of  the 
unfortunate  settlers. 

The  company,  which  had  expended  great  sums  in  planting  and 
sustaining  the  colony,  but  which  had  reaped  no  profit  from  its  enter' 


82 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


prise,  was  now  of  importance  cliicfly  as  the  theatre  of  debate  between 
the  liberal  and  arbitrary  factions.  To  suppress  the  former,  soon 
became  an  object  of  royal  jealousy,  and,  in  1622,  the  king  made  au 
unsuccessful  attempt  to  control  the  election  of  a  treasurer.  In  the 
following  year,  after  the  pretence  of  legal  investigation,  the  patent 
was  declared  forfeited,  and  the  king  resumed  the  authority  into  hia 
own  hands.  This  transaction,  though  committed  under  the  guise 
of  law,  cannot  be  regarded  otherwise  than  as  a  piece  of  royal  usurpa- 
tion, dictated  by  jealousy  at  the  republican  tendencies  of  the  majority 
of  the  company.  The  foreign  government  of  Virginia  was  now 
placed  in  the  hands  of  a  committee  of  partisans  of  the  court,  w^hich 
was  invested  with  the  same  powers  as  the  late  Virginia  Company. 
This  change,  however,  brought  no  immediate  disadvantage  to  the 
colonists,  whose  liberties  were,  though  not  expressly,  suffered  to 
remain  on  the  same  footing  as  before.  Sir  Francis  Wyatt  was  con- 
drmed  in  the  office  of  governor. 

Ilaving  thus  described  the  tardy  and  unprosperous  settlement  of 
Virginia,  and  the  final  dissolution  of  the  company  to  whose  elTorta 
its  existence  as  a  colony  was  due,  we  leave,  for  the  present,  the 
ensuing  particulars  of  its  early  history,  to  relate  that  of  the  common- 
wealth next  founded  on  these  shores — a  commonwealth  whose  hon- 
our, to  all  time,  will  be,  that  it  was  founded  on  principle  rather 
than  on  profit,  and  from  its  very  inception,  preferred  liberty,  though 
with  exile  and  suffering,  to  unjust  restraint,  though  sweetened  with 
the  comforts  of  country  and  of  home. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OE  NE¥  ENGLAND. 


u  (LX  Xii  <L     X    Jj  iLii      X  • 

UXSUCCESSPUL    ATTEMPTS    OF    THE    PLYMOUTH    COMPANY    TO 
SETTLE   NEW  ENGLAND. — PERSECUTION  OF   THE    KON-CON- 
F0RMIST3.  —  RETREAT   OF  ROBINSON'S  CONGREGATION  TO 
HOLLAND:   THEIR    HIGH   CHARACTER:    THEIR   RESOLU- 
TION   TO   PLANT    A    COLONY:     THEIR    LOYALTY    AND 
COURAGE:     DEPARTURE     PROM     DELFT     HAVEN. 

The  patent  issued  by  James  I.  for  the  formation  of  two  com- 
panies to  settle  North  America  has  been  mentioned,  and  the  planta- 
tion of  a  colony  iu  Virginia  by  the  first  of  them  described.  The 
other,  of  weaker  resources  and  less  enterprise,  experienced  in  their 
attempts  to  settle  New  England  only  a  succession  of  miserable  M\- 
urcs.  Their  first  vessel,  in  1606,  was  captured  by  the  Spaniards. 
In  the  following  year,  two  others,  bearing  forty-five  emigrants,  were 
again  dispatched  thither,  and,  in  August,  came  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Kennebec.  A  small  village,  slightly  fortified,  was  built,  and,  in  the 
beginning  of  winter,  the  ships  returned.  The  season  proved  exceed- 
ingly severe;  part  of  their  rv  )visions  were  lost  by  a  fire;  their 
governor,  George  Popham,  dnx ;  and  when,  the  next  year,  the 
vessels  returned  with  supplies,  the  colonists  had  become  so  discour- 
aged as  to  resolve  on  forsaking  the  plantation.  Thus,  the  first 
attempt  at  a  settlement  in  New  England  was  nipped  in  the  bud. 

The  discouragement  caused  by  this  ill-success  was  in  some 
measure  allayed  by  the  enterprise  and  exertions  of  Smith,  who,  in 
1614,  surveyed  and  mapped  out  a  great  portion  of  the  coast  of 
Northern  Virginia,  on  which  he  first  bestowed  the  title  of  New 
England.  The  crime  of  his  partner,  Ilunt,  in  kidnapping  a  number 
of  the  Indians,  and  selling  them  as  slaves  in  Spain,  has  been  men- 
tioned, as  well  as  the  strenuous  but  unavailing  exertions  of  Smith, 
for  years  afterwards,  to  eflect  the  colonization  of  these  neglected 


84 


AMKKICA  ILLUSTKATED. 


regions.  Great  schemes,  indeed,  were  formed,  and  lavish  promises 
were  made  by  the  Plymouth  Company;  and  the  honourable  title  of 
"Admiral  of  New  England,"  bestowed,  in  perpetuity,  on  Smith, 
seemed  to  indicate  a  confidence  in  great  ultimate  success.  All,  how- 
ever, vanished  in  mere  words,  though  the  company,  in  1620,  pro- 
cured frcmi  the  king  a  renewal  of  their  patent,  with  such  almost 
unlimited  powers  of  government  and  extent  of  territory  as  had  never 
before  been  conferred  by  the  crown  on  any  subject  or  association. 
The  settlement  of  New  England  was  due  to  a  spirit  more  earnest 
and  an  aun  more  honourable  than  even  those  by  which  its  warmest 
promoters  had  hitherto  been  actuated. 

The  persecution  of  non-conformists,  commenced  in  the  reign  of 
Elizabeth,  was  carried,  under  that  of  James  I.,  to  such  an  unen- 
durable extreme,  that  a  voluntary  exile  from  England  seemed  at 
last  tlic  only  resource  of  the  aggrieved  part3%  Even  this  forlorn 
alternative,  under  the  despotic  rule  of  the  House  of  Stewart,  Avas 
denied  them;  and  great  suffering  and  long  separation  were  endured 
b}-  tliosc  who  sought  to  fly  the  country.  In  1608,  the  congregation 
of  the  Rev.  John  Robinson,  an  eminent  preacher  of  the  Independent 
Church,  after  several  unsuccessful  attempts,  attended  with  ill-usage 
and  separation,  contrived  to  get  clear  of  England.  They  settled  at 
Leyden,  under  the  more  humane  and  liberal  government  of  Ilolland, 
and  during  a  protracted  residence  at  that  city,  by  their  good  conduct, 
gained  universal  respect.  "These  English,"  said  the  magistrates, 
"have  lived  amongst  us  ten  years,  and  yet  we  never  had  any  suit 
or  accusation  against  any  of  them." 

Their  church,  which,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  numbered  three 
hundred  communicants,  was  of  a  strictly  independent  government; 
and,  to  their  honour,  a  provision  of  their  creed  declared  a  doctrine 
rare,  and,  indeed,  almost  unheard  of  at  the  day — that  ecclesiastical 
censure  should  involve  no  temporal  penalty.  Their  cause  and  their 
doctrines,  defended  by  the  learning  and  eloquence  of  their  pastor, 
were  viewed  with  general  respect  and  sympathy. 

"Wedded  to  industry,  no  less  by  necessity  than  principle,  they  had 
learned  mechanical  arts,  and  honestly,  though  hardly,  supported 
their  families.  They  never,  indeed,  became  in  any  way  assimilated 
with  the  Dutch  in  language  or  in  manners,  and  ever  cherished  an 
affectionate  feeling  for  the  land  from  which  they  had  been  so  rudely 
driven.  The  dissoluteness  of  manners  prevalent  among  certain 
classes  of  the  community  in  which  they  were  settled,  filled  them  with 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  NEW  ENGLAND. 


85 


apprehension  for  the  morals  of  their  children ;  and  it  was  at  last  con- 
sidered advisable  by  them  to  seek  a  permanent  asylum  and  a  national 
home,  even  if  it  could  only  be  found  in  some  yet  untrodden  wilder- 
ness. It  was  proposed  by  the  more  enterprising,  that  they  should 
seek  "some  of  those  unpeopled  countries  of  America,  which  are 
fruitfull  and  fit  for  habitation,  being  devoid  of  all  civill  inhabitants, 
where  there  are  only  salvage  and  brutish  people,  which  range  up 
and  down  little  otherwise  than  the  wild  beasts." 

To  this  scheme  the  more  timid  of  the  company  opposed  many 
objections,  and  especially  the  cruelty  of  the  savages,  and  their  hor- 
rible treatment  of  their  prisoners.  "  It  was  answered,"  says  Bradford,* 
"that  all  great  and  honorable  actions  were  accompanied  with  great 
difficulties,  and  must  be  both  enterprised  and  overcome  with  answer- 
able courages.  It  was  granted  the  dangers  were  great,  but  not 
desperate,  and  the  difficulties  were  many,  but  not  invincible.  It 
might  be  that  some  of  the  things  feared  might  never  befall  them ; 
others,  by  providence,  care,  and  the  use  of  good  means,  might  in  a 
great  measure  be  prevented;  and  all  of  them,  through  the  help  of 
God,  by  patience  and  fortitude,  might  either  be  borne  or  overcome." 
This  noble  reply  appears  to  have  silenced  the  objectors;  for,  after 
several  days  passed  in  prayer  and  humiliation,  it  Avas  resolved  that 
the  little  congregation  of  exiles  should  seek  a  final  home,  whether 
for  life  or  death,  in  the  American  wilderness. 

On  learning  their  determination,  the  Dutch,  who  held  their  cour- 
age and  virtue  in  high  esteem,  were  anxiously  desirous  that  the 
proposed  settlement  should  be  made  in  the  name  of  their  own  nation, 
and  made  handsome  offers  to  that  end;  but  the  love  of  country  pre- 
vailed, and  it  was  resolved  that  wherever  the  company  might  found 
a  state,  it  should  be  but  one  more  province  for  the  crown,  to  which, 
in  despite  of  its  wanton  oppression,  they  were  still  blindly,  but 
loyally  attached.  The  most  eligible  spot,  if  permission  could  be 
obtained  to  remove  thither,  seemed  some  uninhabited  part  of  that 
vast  and  indefinite  tract,  then  known  as  Virginia.  Through  the 
influence  of  Sandys,  permission  to  settle  was  oljtained  from  the  Yir- 
ifinia  Company,  and  through  that  of  the  tolerant  Archbishop  Usher, 
a  sort  of  tacit  connivance  at  their  scheme  was  wrung  from  the  king. 
On  the  most  hard  and  exhorbitant  terms,  absorbing  the  labours  and 
profits  of  the  projected  colony  for  seven  years,  the  requisite  meana 
were  obtained  from  a  company  of  London  merchants.  A  little  ship, 
•  Second  governor  of  Plymouth  colony. 


I 


I 


86 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


called  the  Speedwell,  of  sixty  tons,  had  been  purchased,  and  another 
the  May-Flower,  of  one  hundred  and  eighty,  had  been  hired  in  Eng- 
land. The  first  of  these  was  brought  to  Delft  Haven,  a  port  a  little 
south  of  Leyden,  whither,  on  the  21st  of  July,  1622,  a  portion  of 
the  congregation,  who  were  to  sail,  accompanied  by  most  of  the 
remainder,  repaired.  "So  they  left  that  pleasant  and  goodly  city, 
which  had  been  their  resting  place  near  twelve  years.  But  they 
knew  they  were  Pilgrims,  and  looked  not  much  on  those  things, 
but  lifted  their  eyes  to  heaven,  their  dearest  country,  and  quieted 
their  spirits.  *  *  *  The  next  day,  the  wind  being  fair,  they 
went  on  board,  and  their  friends  with  them;  when,  truly  doleful 
was  the  sight  of  that  sad  and  mournful  parting;  to  see  what  sighs, 
and  sobs,  and  prayers  did  sound  amongst  them ;  what  tears  did  gush 
from  every  eye  and  pithy  speeches  pierced  each  other's  heart;  that 
sundry  of  the  Dutch  strangers  that  stood  on  the  quay  as  spectators, 
could  not  refrain  from  tears."  Their  pastor,  Eobinson,  who,  with 
a  portion  of  his  people,  remained,  "falling  down  on  his  knees,  and 
they  all  with  him,  with  watery  cheeks  commended  them,  with  most 
fervent  prayers,  to  the  Lord  and  his  blessing;  and  then,  with  mutual 
embraces  and  many  tears,  they  took  their  leaves  of  one  another, 
which  proved  to  be  their  last  leave  to  many  of  them."* 


TORMY     VOYAGE     OF     THE     PILGRIMS     TO     AMERICA.  —  THEl 
ARRIVE    AT    CAPE    GOD:    ARE    COMPELLED    TO    DISEMBARK: 
INSTITUTE  A  REPUBLIC.  —  THEIR  SIMPLE  CONSTITUTION. 
— CARVER    ELECTED    GOVERNOR.  —  ABSENCE    OF    PER- 
SONAL  AMBITION   AMONG    THE    PURITAN   SETTLERS. 

The  May-Flower  and  the  Speedwell,  carrying  an  hundred  and 
twenty  passengers,  on  the  5th  of  August,  1620,  sailed  from  South- 
ampton in  company.  Compelled,  by  a  leak  in  the  latter,  they  put 
back  into  Dartmouth,  whence,  on  the  21st,  they  again  took  their 
departure.  After  getting  a  hundred  leagues  to  sea,  they  were  again 
obliged,  through  the  timidity  of  her  captain  and  some  of  the  com- 

*  Bradford's  History  of  Plymouth  Colony. 


■'i 
•I 


rf 


niE  SETTLEMENT  OF   NEW    ENGLAND. 


87 


pany,  to  return  to  Plymouth.  Ilere  tliey  disembarked  the  few  who 
were  too  fearful  to  see  the  adventure  to  an  ertd,  and  on  the  6th  of 
September,  the  remainder,  one  hundred  and  one  in  number,  going 
aboard  the  May-Flower,  bade  their  final  farewell  to  England.  The 
weather,  for  a  time  pleasant,  at  length,  with  the  approach  of  winter, 
became  adverse,  bringing  "many  contrary  winds  and  fierce  storms, 
with  which  their  ship  was  shrewdly  shaken."  The  May-Flower 
began  to  leak,  and  one  of  her  main  beams  bent  and  cracked.  Despite 
these  discouragements,  it  was  resolved  to  hold  on.  One  of  the  pas- 
sengers, by  good  fortune,  had  taken  among  his  effects  a  large  screw, 
"  by  means  of  which  the  said  beam  was  brought  into  his  place  again. 
And  so,"  continues  the  pilgrim  journalist,  "after  many  boisterous 
stormes,  in  which  they  eould  make  no  sail,  but  were  forced  to  lie  at 
hull  for  many  days  together,  after  long  beating  at  sea,  they  fell  in 
with  the  laud  called  Cape  Cod;  the  which  being  made  and  certainly 
known  to  be  it,  they  were  not  a  little  joyful." 

On  the  10th  of  November,  after  a  weary  passage  of  sixty-three 
days,  the  ship  doubled  the  extremity  of  Cape  Cod,  and  anchored  in 
a  good  harbour,  on  which  Provincetown  now  stands.  It  had  been 
agreed  that  the  pilgrims  should  be  landed  somewhere  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  Hudson,  but  the  captain  of  the  May-Flower,  bribed, 
it  is  said,  by  the  Dutch,  who  were  jealous  of  intrusion  on  their  ter- 
ritories, pleading  the  low  state  of  the  provision  as  an  excuse,  insisted 
on  landing  them  immediately.  Being  compelled  to  comply,  and 
finding  themselves  without  the  limits  of  the  Virginia  Company's 
jurisdiction,  and  thus  destitute  of  a  government,  they  at  once  set  to 
work  to  construct  one;  and,  on  the  very  day  after  their  arrival, 
(November  11th,)  with  a  reservation  of  allegiance  to  the  crown,  pro- 
ceeded to  erect  a  democracy  in  its  simplest  and  most  explicit  sense. 
All  the  men  of  the  company,  forty -one  in  number,  signed  the  fol- 
lowing brief  but  comprehensive  instrument: 

"In  the  name  of  God,  avaGn-,  we,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  the  loyal  subjects 
of  our  dread  sovereign,  King  James,  having  undertiiken,  for  the  glory  of  God  and 
advancement  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  honor  of  our  king  and  country,  a  voyage  to 
plant  the  first  colony  in  the  northern  parts  of  Virginia,  do  by  these  presents,  solemnly 
and  mutually,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  one  of  another,  covenant  and  combine  our- 
selves together,  into  a  civil  body  politic,  for  our  better  ordering  and  preservation,  and 
furtherance  of  the  ends  aforesaid ;  and  by  virtue  hereof  to  enact,  constitute  and  framo 
such  just  and  equal  laws,  ordinances,  acts,  constitutions  and  offices,  from  time  to 
time,  as  shall  be  thought  most  convenient  for  the  good  of  the  colony.  Unto  which 
we  promise  all  due  obedience  and  submission." 


88 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


Sucli  was  the  plain  and  simple  form  of  the  first  written  constitu- 
tion, emanating  from  the  popular  will,  ever  adopted  in  America.  J\ 
may  be  regarded  as  the  basis  of  that  vast  superstructure  of  freedom 
which  has  since  been  gradually  reared  in  the  Western  Hemisphere. 

Mr.  John  Carver,  a  gentleman  of  high  integrity  and  amiable  char- 
acter, and  one  of  the  chief  promoters  of  the  enterprise,  was  forthwith 
chosen  governor — an  office  which,  in  the  present  juncture  of  afl'airs, 
could  have  offered  little  temptation  to  ambition.  "In  the  ea'-ly  his- 
tory of  New  England,  it  may  be  remarked,  we  do  not  find,  as  in 
that  of  nearly  all  other  Europ(\an  settlements,  the  name  of  any  one 
man  greatly  consjiicuous  above  his  companions,  or  exclusively  iden- 
tified with  the  foundation  of  the  commonwealth.  The  names  of 
Cortes  and  Pizarro,  of  Champlain  and  Penn  and  Smith,  are  each 
inseparably  associated  with  the  liistory  of  the  countries  whose  desti- 
nies, for  good  or  evil,  they  had  so  large  a  share  in  shaping;  while, 
in  the  less  ambitious  annals  of  Puritan  colonization,  the  memories 
of  Carver,  Bradford,  and  Winslow — of  Endicott  and  AVinthrop — of 
Stnndish,  ^[ason,  and  Church,  with  thoseof  many  other  associate  wor- 
thies, are  fused  and  blended  with  the  common  history  of  the  country. 

"The  cause  of  this  distinction  is  not  difficult  to  define.  Principle, 
rather  than  personal  ambition,  whether  of  the  more  selfish  or  gener- 
ous kind,  was  the  main  spring  and  prompting  motive  of  the  actors 
who  figured  in  those  on(55  neglected  scenes  of  enterprise;  and  all 
thought  of  private  advancement  or  renown  was  for  the  time  merged 
in  a  spirit  of  community,  such  as  only  the  strong  prompting  of  reli- 
nious  enthusiasm  can  maintain." 


DllEAUT    APPEARANCE    OP    NEW   ENGLAND.  —  EXPLORING    PARTY. 
— STRANGE  INJUSTICE   TO  THE  INDIANS. — THE   VOYAGE  TO 
PLYMOUTH   HARBOUR.  —  SKIRMISH    WITH   THE   SAVAGES. 
—  SETTLEMENT  OP   PLYMOUTH   FOUNDED. — GREAT  SUF- 
FERING   AND    MORTALITY    AMONG    THE     PILGRIMS. 


lTnr,ET)  by  the  impatience  of  the  master  of  the  May-Flower,  the 
little  band  of  exiles  busied  themselves  in  finding  a  place  for  imniedi 
ftie  disembarkation  and  settlement.     Nothing  could  have  been  more 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF   NEW   ENGLAND. 


bU 


dreary  or  desolate  than  the  appearance  of  the  country  they  had 
touclied  on — of  a  stern  and  sombre  character  in  the  pleasantcst  sea- 
son, and  now  doubly  severe  in  the  gloom  of  an  approaching  winter. 
"Which  way  soever,"  says  one  of  them,  "they  turned  their  eyes 
(save  upward  to  the  Ileaven)  they  could  have  little  solace  or  content 
in  respect  of  any  outward  objects.  For  summer  being  done,  all 
things  stand  for  them  to  look  upon  with  a  weather-beaten  foce;  and 
the  whole  country  being  full  of  woods  and  thickets,  represented  a 
wild  and  Salvage  hue.  If  they  looked  behind  them,  there  was  the 
mighty  ocean  which  they  had  passed,  and  was  now  a  main  bar  and 
gulf  to  separate  them  from  all  the  civil  parts  of  the  world.  *  *  * 
May  and  ought  not  the  children  of  these  fathers  rightly  to  say, 
'Our  fathers  were  Englishmen,  which  came  over  this  great  ocean  and 
were  ready  to  perish  in  this  wilderness.  But  they  cried  unto  the 
Lord,  and  he  heard  thefr  voice  and  looked  on  their  adversity.'  And 
let  thcin  tlierefore  praise  the  Lord,  because  he  is  good,  and  his  mer- 
cies endure  ibrever." 

On  the  15th,  sixteen  volunteers  were  permitted  to  go  on  shore, 
under  command  of  Captain  Miles  Standish,  who  had  served  in  the 
wars  of  Holland,  and  who  was  the  only  soldier  by  profession  in  the 
whole  comp/any.  This  redoubtable  warrior  (the  Mr.  Greatheart  of 
the  I'rogress  of  these  Pilgrims)  was  a  man  little  in  stature,  but  re- 
markably strong  and  active,  and  of  the  most  fiery  and  resolute 
courage.  The  company  marched  inland  for  ten  miles,  following  a 
part}  of  Indians,  whom  they  could  not  overtake.  Weary  and  thirsty, 
they  came  at  last  to  a  spring,  where,  says  one,  *'wc  sat  us  down  and 
drank  our  first  New  England  water,  v/ith  as  much  delight  as  ever 
we  drank  drink  in  all  our  lives."  They  found  and  examined  an 
Indian  grave,  carefully  rej)lacing  the  articles  deposited  there,  "tiiink- 
ing  it  would  be  odious  unto  them  to  ransack  their  sepulchres."  From 
a  subterranean  store-house,  however,  which  they  discovered,  tiicy 
thought  lit  to  carry  off  a  supply  of  juovisions,  among  which  were 
"six  and  tiiirty  goodly  cars  of  corn,  some  yellow  and  some  red,  and 
others  mixed  witli  blue,  whicii  was  a  very  goodly  sight."  Kepara- 
tion  was  afterwards  made  to  the  owners,  and,  it  is  said,  that  the 
grain  thus  obtained,  preserved  fur  seed,  eventually  secured  the 
colony  from  famine.  In  other  expeditions  of  survey,  both  store 
houses  and  wigwams  were  "ran.sackcd,"  and  the  simple  wealth  of 
tlie  'ibsent  Indians  unjustly  appropriated— though,  with  the  saving 
clause  of  intended  restitution,     ^'^inc  of  ths  best  lhin»js  iccc  touh;" 


I  . 


90 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED, 


remarks  the  narrator,  with  that  happy  unconsciousness  of  impiopri- 
ety  which,  almost  throughout  our  colonial  history,  marks  the  record 
of  violence,  of  fraud,  or  of  spoliation  committed  on  the  natives. 

The  adjoining  regions  having  been  partially  explored,  at  a  con- 
sultation, it  was  thought  best  by  some,  for  the  convenience  of  fishing 
and  other  advantages,  to  settle  on  Cape  Cod;  but  the  pilot,  Mr. 
Coppin,  suggesting  that  there  v/as  a  good  harbour  on  the  western 
side  of  the  bay,  it  was  resolved  to  examine  it.  On  the  6th  of  Decem- 
ber, a  bitter  cold  day.  Carver,  Winslow,  Bradford,  Standish,  and 
fourteen  more,  embarked  in  the  shallop,  and  followed  the  coast  south- 
ward. The  spray,  falling  on  their  clothes,  froze  instantly,  "and 
made  them  many  times  like  coats  of  iron."  On  the  morning  of  the 
second  day  of  their  voyage,  while  at  prayers  on  the  shore,  they  were 
assailed  with  arrows  by  a  party  of  savages.  Muskets  were  discharged 
in  return,  but  no  serious  result  seems  to  ha-^  ensued  on  cither  side. 
The  Indians  finally  retreated,  leaving,  among  other  trophies,  eighteen 
arrows,  "  headed  with  brass,  some  with  harts'  horns,  and  others  with 
eagles'  claws."  "The  cry  of  our  enemies,"  says  one  of  the  pilgrims, 
"was  dreadful.  Their  note  was  after  this  manner,  ^woach,  ivoach, 
ha  ha  hach  woachJ  "  This  peculiar  succession  of  sounds  has  descended 
to  our  own  day,  as  the  war-whoop  of  certain  native  tribes. 

All  that  day,  the  voyagers  sailed  swiftly,  with  a  fair  wind,  along 
the  coast;  but  toward  night,  the  weather  grew  heavier,  and  the 
rudder  breaking  from  its  hinges,  they  had  much  ado  to  scud  before 
the  wind,  steering  with  oars.  "The  seas  were  grown  so  great  that 
we  were  much  troubled  and  in  great  danger;  and  night  grew  on. 
Anon,  Master  Coppin  bade  us  be  of  good  cheer,  he  saw  the  harbour. 
As  we  drew  near,  the  gale  being  siilT,  and  we  bearing  great  sail  to 
got  in,  split  our  mast  into  three  pieces,  and  were  like  to  have  cast 
away  our  shallop.  Yet,  by  God's  mercy,  recovering  ourselves,  we 
had  the  flood  with  us,  and  struck  into  the  harbour." 

Tliis  harbour,  already  surveyed  and  named  by  Captain  John 
Smith,  was  that  of  Plymouth.  The  location  appeared  so  favourable 
tliat  it  was  resolved  to  plant  the  settlement  there,  and,  accordingly, 
the  party  of  survey  having  returned  to  Cape  Cod,  on  the  IGth,  the 
ship,  with  all  her  company  (except  one  who  had  died  at  sea,  and 
four  wiio  had  died  at  the  cape),  came  into  the  harbour.  "  On  the 
22d  of  December,  1620,  a  day  for  ever  memorable  in  the  annals  of 
America,  the  little  band  of  I'ilgriins  landed  on  that  rock,  now,  like 
the  Stono  of  Mecca,  the  obj>.'ct  of  enthusia-stic  pilgrimage  to  their 


of  impiopri- 
3  the  record 
natives. 
3(1,  at  a  con- 
ee  of  fishing 
e  pilot,  Mr. 
the  western 
h  of  Decem- 
andish,  and 
coast  south- 
antly,  "and 
rning  of  the 
e,  they  were 
i  discharged 
cither  side. 
ies,  eighteen 
others  with 
he  pilgrims, 
oach,  ivoach, 
s  descended 
s. 

wind,  along 
er,  and  the 
5cud  before 
•  great  that 
it  grew  on. 
le  liarbour. 
jrcat  sail  to 
o  have  cast 
irsclves,  we 

itain  Jolin 
favourable 
ccordingly, 
e  IGth,  the 
lit  sea,  and 
"On  the 
annals  of 
,  now,  like 
'0  to  their 


>f#»t'^ 


m^ 


fr 


'S 


^  '.f 


m- 


m 


^-1Ss=-'*-5-.7— ^ 


i 


>k 


K 


I 


90 


AMERICA  ILLUSTEATED. 


ri'.  ''i.'-T;?"^ 


.  ^^^     kjf^a. 


.    .  ed  on  tlienatrves. 
iiSEtially  i^xplored,  at  a  con- 
!br  the  oonvenieBCii  of  fisbing 
ii  oa  uupe  Cod;  but  the  pilot,  Mn 

4' ■•;.>+>  -;Hr»    ^i.  -^.-...<   •.  ..y.fl  baruour  oa  the  wester  .i 

*K  .  >  *.     On  tho  6th  ' -f  I>feceni- 

i*Pt:,»,  bil*&ir.cc>J  Oart-er,  Wins  iKifiord.  SttfOuiSh,  and 

J^wytecti  nwro,  embark^-4ia  ;  liop,  and  lliow<id  tlxi coast  Bouth- 

"i^J.  ■  'I'ho  spr:  iiMsir  t*  '.  ;e»,  frozs  instantly,  "and 

fiiadaftbcn?  soaiuiy  uu.t  s  iU-e  c-*.-i3  of  *;r>  ."  On  the  morning  oi  the 
ge<rond  tiay  ol  thw^'  v  ••<.,..  W!  ile  at  pri-jcrs  on  V.ri  shore,  ihoy  wfro 
nssawkd  with  arrows  rtv^^'scvap--     lur.^<'s  were  lischarged 

ri  return,  but  no .«  .sefeins  t ;  bai^  tflsued  on  eitJicr  gitlc. 

T'.'-  Indians  ^itftl.y  a-ttfeiiHtf;  #*Yi6gf  Wrtoj;g  '^ihac  troj)hies,  eighteen 
>»!  7'.v?iq^  "he«d*^  ^  i^^  hm?a(,  srKjje  with  bttri«*  ho;-  .  «ju1  otberfc  with 
? .    •  ••  '^.i^lw*,'',     "«;■'!(*>  en'  of  i»iht  9iwm.f%,''  Bays  ono  of  the  jnlgiiin.^, 

_  **  J*-  'JTids  has  dfisceuded 

,    J!  r -«•»»«!,  Along 

4  arwr,  and  t!»o 

tt^-  ado  t«  Buud  bcfijro  . 

:,"    .  .1  bij  great  that 

M>  r  .      .  .   r;  fiiJ  I.! 'ht  grew  on. 

:       -  •  '•       .  '       !U    lie  ;:iA-  tho  hf^rfcapt. 

'■      •'    .-.  rx  ."■»./ >rreat^J  40: 
■  o«raclvefi^  wd 


1    rf  f%. 


A 

'KJn^->lt.Vir<r5%^7«*-» 

the  - 

..'  ;      -tt,  <«««»■■  1    »<i;-' 

ru.;a. 

;   M      ,  'i^u'  frft.x 

tKt;  V 

■'     '      -1     .      ••   .^    ./! 

i". 


'    >' 


f  ^.   ^i  4  1    ivv   Oaptain  John 

v..      ..     t 'u.  up;  cr»tc<J  so  fiivoimdl''; 

'       tfe  ...*:':.':i.t  ti.ero,  9Xi<\  iiCcunjlJnj.H_ 

«»-*^*s^l  yj  Ca;>e  C«>»1,  oh  the  ICth,  th. 

^  '  iic  tth     !     '    ■:   '  ;it  sea,  dl.a 

i^'t'^  »•  >'0n  the 

a«nal«  of 

:;iii'!<'.i  on  tLti.  ra-r.k,  now^  lika 


.  ■  '.X\\\. 


t.;    '1, 


■•I)!-!- 


ives. 

at  a  con- 
of  fiabing 
lilot,  Mn 

B  wostcr.i 

Ai^h,  and 
ast  soutii- 
;Iy,  "and 
ng  oi'  tlio 
,iie\'  wcrg 
iscliarfieti 
tlicr  Biiio. 
eighteen 
bei-b  sv'ith 
t-ilGiiiQS, 

ir^  ilcrig 

aU'l  t!io 

id  bcfijra 

^eat  ibat 

grew  on. 

0  cant 


a.in  JobC   ij 

ordi.    i 
IClh,  lb. 
sea,  and 


(       ,.! 


%  t 


THE   SETTLEMKNT   OF    NEW   ENGLAND 


91 


df.scenclants."  A  site  was  selected  for  the  town,  and  timber  being 
cut,  nineteen  houses,  with  all  possible  dispatch,  were  erecied;  but, 
so  severe  was  the  season,  and  so  great  the  unavoidable  exposure, 
(especially  in  wading  on  the  shallows,  to  and  from  their  barge,)  that, 
before  the  end  of  February,  twenty-five  more  of  them  had  perished 
of  disease  and  privation. 


CHAPTEH   I?. 

THE  INDIANS  OF  NEW   ENGLAND:   THINNED   BY    PESTILENCE 
— THE   PEQUOTS,    NARE AOANSEXTS,    AND   OTHER   TRIBES. 
— EXTRAORDINARY   OPINIONS  OF  THE   ENGLISH   CON- 
CERNING THEM. — BIGOTED  ACCOUNTS  OP   THE 
ANCIENT     HISTORIANS,     ETC. 

By  a  deflating  pestilence,  which,  not  long  before  their  arrival, 
had  swept  New  England,  the  country  around  Plymouth  had  been,  in 
great  measure,  denuded  of  its  original  inhabitants.  Many  powerful 
tribes  had  been  almost  annihilated,  and  others  reduced  to  a  fraction 
of  their  original  numbers.  The  most  considerable  nations  yet  sur- 
viving, were  those  of  the  Pequots  and  Narragansetts,  often  at  war 
with  each  other,  and  with  other  neighbouring  tribes.  The  former, 
whose  chief  stronghold  was  on  a  commanding  eminence  in  Groton, 
in  the  ca.'^t  of  Connecticut,  numbered,  says  Roger  Williams,  thirty 
thousand  souls.  This,  undoubtedly,  is  an  excessive  exaggeration. 
The  latter,  a  noble  and  magnanimous  people,  dwelt  in  the  state  of 
Rhode  I.'^land,  where,  it  is  said,  they  numbered  five  thousand  war- 
riors. The  Pokanokets,  a  confederacy  of  smaller  tribes,  including 
the  Wampanoags,  Pocassets,  Sogkonates,  and  many  others,  dwelt 
in  Eastern  Massachusetts,  and  on  the  upper  waters  of  Narragaiisett 
Bay.  Before  the  ravages  of  the  pestilence,  they  are  said  to  have 
comprised  three  thousand  warriors ;  but  afterwards  only  five  hun- 
dred. The  Massachusetts,  dwelling  around  the  Bay  of  that  name, 
had  formerly  been  a  gieat  people,  but,  from  tlic  scvme  cause,  were 
reduced  to  a  mere  remnant.  These  tribes  mostly  acknowledged  the 
Ruiiremacy  of  Massasoit,  chief  of  the  Wanipanoagf,  whose  chief  seat 
was  at  Mount  IIopc,  near  the  present  town  of  Bristol.     The  Paw- 


ll 


92 


AMERICA   ILLUSTEATED. 


tuckets,  who,  we  are  told,  had  also  numbered  three  thousand  war 
riors,  had  been  almost  completely  exterminated.  Many  sinidl  clans, 
mostly  dwelling  in  the  westward  of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts, 
are  not  included  in  this  estimate. 

All  these  tribes,  except  the  Pequots  and  Narragansetts,  were 
tributary  to  the  Mohawks,  inhabiting  the  east  of  New  York,  one  of 
the  fiercest  and  most  powerful  of  the  celebrated  Five  Nations.  "  Two 
old  Mohawks,"  says  Dr.  Trumbull,  "every  year  or  two  might  be 
seen  issuing  their  orders,  and  collecting  their  tribute,  with  as  much 
authority  and  haughtiness  as  a  Eoman  dictator."  Any  disobedience 
of  their  commands  was  speedily  punished  by  an  avenging  war-party, 
which  cut  off  the  offenders  without  mercy.  The  Mohawks,  it  is 
said,  would  sometimes  pursue  their  victims  into  the  houses  of  the 
English,  yelling,  "We  are  come!  we  are  come  to  suck  your  blood," 
and  slaying  them  on  the  very  hearth-stone.  This  powerful  league, 
however,  long  at  mortal  feud  with  the  French  of  Canada,  regarded 
the  English,  as  rivals  of  the  latter,  with  complacency,  and  never 
offered  any  molestation  to  their  persons  or  property. 

"It  was  now  just  a  century  since  the  Conquest  of  •ifexico,  by 
Cortes,  had  first  brought  the  races  of  Europe  into  direct  collision 
with  those  of  the  "Western  Continent.  In  that  interval,  the  Reform- 
ation had  arisen,  had  spread,  and  had  produced  perhaps  its  finest 
fruit  in  the  little  band  of  self-devoted  exiles*  who  sought  in  the  wil- 
derness a  foothold  for  civil  and  religious  freedom.  As  a  matter  of 
course,  the  world  was  more  enlightened,  yet,  strange  to  say,  hardly 
a  step  had  yet  been  taken  in  the  direction  of  the  fairest  and  no- 
blest result  to  which  enlightenment  can  tend — the  acknowlediirment 
of  the  universal  humanity  and  brotherhood  of  all  mankind.  Our 
pious  forefathers,  like  the  Spaniards  of  the  century  before,  still 

*  Some  idea  of  the  noLle  spirit  of  tolerance  which  distinguislied  the  first  exiled 
Puritans  may  Lo  gathered  from  the  farewell  address  of  their  psistor,  breafhiiig  senti- 
ments infinitely  in  advance  of  his  age,  and  even,  in  some  degree,  of  our  own.  "J 
charge  you,"  lie  says,  "before  God  and  his  blessed  angels,  that  you  follow  nic  no 
further  than  you  have  seen  mo  follow  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  The  Lord  has  more 
trutli  yet  to  break  out  of  his  Holy  Word.  I  cannot  sufiieiently  bewail  tlic  eonlilion 
of  the  reformed  cliurches,  who  are  come  to  a  period  in  religion,  and  will  go  ;'.t  present 
no  furtiier  than  the  instruments  of  their  reformation. — Luther  and  Calvin  were 
great  and  shining  lights  in  their  time,  yet  they  penetrated  not  into  the  whole  counsel 
of  God. — I  beseech  you,  remember  it — 'tis  an  article  of  your  church  covenant — that 
you  be  ready  to  receive  whatever  truth  is  made  known  to  you  from  the  wriUeii  word 
of  God." 


THE  SETTLEMENT    UF    NEW   ENOLANJ). 


»8 


regarded  the  dwellers  of  tlie  New  World  as  the  direct  offspring  or 
eertainly  the  direet  worshippers  of  Satan,  and  as  enjoying  all  the 
familiarity  to  which  his  most  favoured  yroU'fjvs  could  be  entitled. 
Nothing  is  more  strange  than  to  read  the  opinions  and  conclusions 
on  this  subject  of  the  men  of  that  age — men  otherwise  just,  saga- 
cious, and,  for  their  day,  liberal  in  the  extreme." 

According  to  one  of  the  early  historians  of  New  England,  the 
aborigines,  on  learning  of  the  arrival  of  the  pilgrims,  took  extraor- 
dinary pains  to  exorcise  the  advent  of  Christianity.  "They  got,"  he 
says,  "all  the  powaws  of  the  country,  who,  for  three  days  together, 
in  a  horid  and  devilish  manner,  did  curse  and  execrate  them  with 
their  conjurations,  which  assembly  and  service  they  held  in  a  dark 
and  dismal  swamp.  Behold  how  Satan  labored  to  hinder  the  gospel 
from  coming  into  New  England." 

In  his  "Good  News  from  New  England,"  Governor  Winslow,  with 
a  sort  of  ludicrous  reiteration,  dwells  on  the  same  point.  "Another 
power  they  worship,"  he  informs  us,  "whom  they  call  Ilohhamock, 
and  to  the  northward  of  us  Uobbamoqui;  this,  as  far  as  we  can  con- 
ceive, is  the  devil.  *  *  This  Ilohhamoch  appears  in  sundry 
forms  unto  them,  as  in  the  shape  of  a  man,  a  deer,  a  fawn,  an  eagle, 
&c.,  but  most  ordinarily  a  snake.  lie  appears  not  to  all,  but  the 
chiefest  and  most  judicious  among  them;  though  all  of  them  strive 
to  attain  to  that  hellish  height  of  honor.  *  *  The  paniesses 
are  men  of  great  courage  and  wisdom,  and  to  these  the  devil  appear- 
eth  more  familiarly  than  to  others,  and,  as  we  conceive,  maketh  cov- 
enant with  them  to  preserve  them  from  death  by  wounds  with  arrows, 
knives,  hatchets,  &c.  *  *  And  to  the  end  that  they  may 
have  store  of  these,  they  train  up  the  most  forward  and  likeliest  boys, 
from  their  childhood,  in  great  hardness,  and  make  them  abstain  from 
dainty  meat,  observing  divers  orders  prescribed,  to  the  end  that, 
when  they  are  of  age,  the  devil  may  appear  to  them.  *  *  Also 
they  beat  their  shins  witli  sticks,  and  cause  them  to  run  through 
bushes,  stumps,  and  brambles,  to  make  them  hardy  and  acceptable 
to  the  devil,  that  in  time  he  may  appear  to  them." 

Uear  the  reverend  William  Ilubbard,  the  painful  historian  of  New 
England,  only  a  few  years  before  the  commencement  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  lie  concludes  a  dissertation  on  the  origin  of  the  Indians  in 
the  following  lucid  and  summary  manner:  "Mr.  ^Lede's  opinion 
about  the  pas-sage  of  the  natives  into  this  remote  region,  carryes  the 
greatest  probability  of  truth  with  it;  of  whose  conjectuie  it  may  be 


94 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


said,  in  a  sense,  as  sometimes  of  Achithopell's  counsell  in  those  dayes, 
that  itt  was  as  the  oracle  of  God.  His  conceitt  is,  that  when  the 
devill  was  putt  out  of  his  throne  in  the  other  parts  of  the  world,  and 
that  the  mouth  of  all  his  oracles  was  stopt  in  Europe,  Asia,  and  Afri- 
ca, hee  seduced  a  company  of  silly  wretches  to  follow  his  conduct" 
(guidance)  "into  this  unknowne  part  of  the  world,  where  hee  might 
lye  hid,  and  not  be  disturbed  in  the- idolatrous  and  abominable,  or 
rather  diabolicall  service  hee  expected  from  those  his  followers;  for 
here  are  no  footsteps  of  any  religion  before  the  English  came,  but 
meerely  diabolicall  *  *  and  so  uncouth,  as  if  it  were  framed  and 
devised  by  the  devill  himselfe,  and  'tis  transacted  by  them  they  used 
to  call  pawwowes,  by  some  kind  of  familiarity  with  Satan,  to  whom 
they  used  to  resort  for  counsell  in  all  kinde  of  evills,  both  corporall 
and  civill." 

"To  opinions  such  as  these,  the  result  of  ignorance  and  prejudice, 
must  doubtless  be  attributed  a  large  measure  of  that  cruel  and  un- 
charitable spirit,  which  dictated  not  only  the  wrongs  and  massacres 
committed  on  the  natives,  but  the  still  more  unpleasing  exultation 
over  their  sufferings  and  extermination,  which  glows  with  an  infer- 
nal light  in  the  pages  of  the  chronicles  of  the  day,  and  especially  in 
those  of  the  reverend  historians,  Hubbard  and  Mather. 

"Continually  on  the  alert  against  the  assaults  of  the  infernal 
enemy,  our  fathers  saw  his  finger  in  witchcraft,  in  Indian  warfare, 
and  in  many  another  annoyance,  the  result  of  natural  causes.  Anger 
and  hatred  were  thus  aroused — hatred,  indeed,  of  an  imaginary  foe, 
but  still  hatred,  bitter,  personal,  and  vindictive  to  a  degree  which 
we  can  hardly  conceive,  and  which  found  its  gratification  in  ven- 
geance on  the  supposed  agents  of  the  invisible  Tormentor. 

"It  could  hardly,  perhaps,  be  expected  that  men  engaged  in  the 
deadly  terrors  of  savage  warfare  should  have  much  sympathy  for 
their  vanquished  enemies — especially  when  regarded  as  children  of 
the  devil;  yet  the  daring  ferocity  of  the  Indian-fighters,  occasionally 
relieved  by  a  touch  of  good  feeling  and  humanity,  is  far  more  agree- 
able to  contemplate  than  the  venomous  spirit  exhibited  by  the  hon- 
ourable and  reverend  recorders  of  their  deeds,  whose  minds,  imbued 
with  the  wretched  notion  of  Satanic  agency,  seem  actually  to  revel 
in  the  torment,  destruction,  and  assured  damnation  of  their  unfortu- 
nate foes.  In  this  particular,  we  perceive  a  superstition  strangely 
variant  from  that  of  the  Spaniard,  who,  while  slaying  and  tormenting 
the  miserable  bodies  of  the  aborigines,  was  ever  anxious,  even  at  the 


'    I 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF   NEW   ENGLAND. 


95 


stake  or  the  gallows,  that  their  souls  might  escape  the  eternal  penalty, 
and  be  admitted  to  the  same  heaven  -which  he  expected  to  enjoy  m 
person."* 


CHAPTER   Y. 

8AM0SET:  "WELCOME,  ENGLISHMEN." — THE  VISIT   OF  MASSl- 

SOIT. — TREATY  AND  ALLIANCE. — MORTALITY  AMONG   THE 

COLONISTS. — DEATH  OF  GOVERNOR  CARVER. — DUEL,  AND 

ITS    PUNISHMENT. — VISIT    TO    MASSASOIT:    TO    lYAN- 

OUGH.  —  AFFECTING  INCIDENT. 

The  first  Indian  with  whom  the  settlers  of  Plymouth  had  any 
communication,  was  one  Samoset,  a  sagamore  or  petty  chief,  who 
had  learned  a  little  English  from  the  traders  of  Manhegin,  and  who, 
on  the  16th  of  March,  1621,  entered  the  little  settlement,  and  saluted 
the  pilgrims  with  the  ever-memorable  words,  "  Welcome,  Englishmen." 
A  friendly  intercourse,  by  his  means,  was  immediately  established 
with  the  neighbouring  Indians,  who  heretofore  had  held  cautiously 
aloof.  One  whom  he  brought  on  a  subsequent  visit,  was  Squanto, 
the  only  surviving  native  of  Patuxet,  the  country  around  Plymouth. 
He  was  one  of  the  twenty-four  whom  "that  wicked  varlet  Hunt" 
had  kidnapped,  and,  having  been  at  London,  and  learned  English, 
he  proved  of  great  value  as  an  interpreter.  He  brought  information 
that  Massasoit,  the  greatest  sachem  of  the  adjoining  regions,  with 
many  of  his  subjects,  was  close  at  hand.  That  chief,  attended  by 
sixty  men,  presently  appeared  on  the  hill  above  Plymouth,  and 
Edward  Winslow,  with  the  interpreters,  was  sent  to  meet  him. 
"We  sent  to  the  king,"  says  the  old  historian,  "a  pair  of  knives, 
with  a  copper  chain  and  a  jewel  at  it.  To  Quadequina"  (his  brother) 
"  we  sent  likewise  a  knife,  and  a  jewel  to  hang  in  his  ear,  and  withal 
a  pot  of  strong  waters."  In  compliance  with  a  friendly  invitation, 
Massasoit,  leaving  Winslow  as  a  hostage,  descended  the  hill,  and, 
with  twenty  attendants,  came  to  one  of  the  houses,  where  prepara* 
tion  had  been  made  to  receive  him. 


Vol.  IV.— 35 


*  Discoverers,  die,  of  America. 


'I 


r 


90 


AMEUICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


Governor  Carver,  with  the  sound  of  drum  and  trumpet,  presently 
entered,  and  the  two  dignitaries  were  soon  in  convivial  and  political 
harmony.  "After  salutations,  our  governor  kissing  his  hand,  the 
king  kissed  him,  and  so  they  sat  down.  The  governor  called  for 
some  strong  waters,  and  drank  to  him,  and  he  drank  a  great  draught," 
Sac,  &c.  An  interview  thus  propitiously  commenced,  soon  ripened 
into  treaty  and  alliance — alliance  faithfully  observed  by  both  parties 
for  more  than  fifty  years;  and  the  sachem  (influenced,  it  is  to  be 
feared,  a  trifle  overmuch  by  the  vigorous  draught  he  had  imbibed) 
"acknowledged  himself  content  to  become  the  subject  of  our  sover- 
eign lord,  the  king  aforesaid,  his  heirs  and  successors;  and  gave  unto 
them  all  the  lands  adjacent  to  them  and  to  their  heirs  forever.  *  * 
All  which  the  king  seemed  to  like  well,  and  it  was  applauded  of  his 
followers.  All  the  while  he  sat  by  the  governor,  he  trembled  with 
fear.  In  his  person  he  is  a  very  lusty  man,  in  his  best  years,  of  an 
able  body,  grave  of  countenance  and  spare  of  speech;  in  his  attire, 
little  or  nothing  diflering  from  the  rest  of  his  followers,  only  in  a 
great  chain  of  white  bone  beads  about  his  neck;  and  at  it,  behind 
his  neck,  hangs  a  little  bag  of  tobacco,  which  he  drank  and  gave  us 
to  drink,"  (?'.  e.  smoke.) 

Under  the  instruction  of  Squanto  and  Samoset,  the  English,  with 
the  coming  on  of  spring,  applied  themselves  to  fishing  and  to  the 
agriculture  suitable  to  the  country.  Twenty  acres  of  Indian  corn 
were  planted.  Thirteen  more  of  the  colonists  died  during  March, 
reducing  them  to  half  of  their  original  number,  and  the  May-Flower, 
half  of  whose  crew  was  also  dead,  on  the  fifth  of  April,  sailed  for 
England.  On  the  following  day,  died  good  Governor  Carver,  who, 
while  toiling  in  the  unwonted  heat  of  an  American  sun,  had  received 
a  mortal  coup  de  sohil.  "His  care  and  pains  were  so  great  for  the 
common  good,  as  therewith,  it  is  thought,  he  oppressed  himself  and 
shortened  his  days."  Such  is  the  brief  but  honourable  epitaph  of 
the  first  New  England  executive.  William  Bradford,  a  young  man, 
but  ardent  and  energetic,  was  elected  to  succeed  him.  Under  his 
rule  the  first  punishment  was  inflicted  in  the  colony.  Two  servants 
of  Mr.  Hopkins,  for  fighting  a  duel,  with  sword  and  dagger,  were 
adjudged,  by  general  vote,  to  be  tied,  neck  and  heels  together,  and 
so  to  remain  twenty-four  hours;  but  the  judges,  moved  by  the  ex 
cruciating  tortures  of  the  culprits  (both  of  whom  had  been  woundeo 
in  their  duello)  released  them  within  an  hour,  on  promise  of  bettei 
carriage  for  the  future. 


THE   SETTLEMENT   OF  NEW   ENGLAND. 


97 


"Winslow  and  Hopkins,  setting  forth,  in  July,  on  a  visit  to  Massa- 
Boit,  passed  through  many  fields  well  cleared  and  ready  for  cultiva- 
tion, but  depoj)ulatcd  by  the  pestilence,  numerous  skeletons  still 
bleacliiug  on  the  ground.  Massasoit,  though  friendly  and  hospitable, 
wii  ill-prep;u  '1  ibr  the  reception  of  company,  the  royal  larder,  it 
seems,  just  then,  being  wofully  unsup2:)lied.  Two  fish,  which  the 
poor  king  caught  with  his  own  hands,  were  all  the  refreshment  he 
could  olfer  them.  Agreements  for  traffic  were  made,  and  the  chief, 
turning  to  his  assembled  subjects,  made  a  long  oration,  "the  meaning 
whereof,"  says  Winslow,  "was,  as  flxr  as  we  could  learn,  thus,  'Was 
not  he,  Massasoyt,  commander  of  the  country  round  about  them? 
Was  not  such  a  town  his  and  the  people  of  it?  and  should  they  not 
bring  their  skins  unto  us?'  To  which  they  answered,  they  were  his, 
and  would  be  at  peace  with  us,  and  bring  their  skins  to  us.  After 
this  manner  he  named  at  least  thirty  places,  and  their  answer  was  as 
aforesaid  to  every  one;  so  that,  as  it  was  delightful,  it  was  tedious 
unto  us.  This  being  ended,  he  lighted  tobacco  for  us,  and  fell  to 
discoursing  of  England  and  of  the  King's  Majesty,  marvelling  tliat 
he  would  live  without  a  wile."  After  a  friendly  sojourn  of  some 
days,  the  envoys  returned,  leaving  the  chief  "both  grieved  and 
ashamed  that  he  could  no  better  entertain  them." 

A  part}'  of  the  English,  searching  for  a  lost  child,  (who  was  found, 
and  well  cared  for  by  the  Indians,)  put  into  Cummaquid,  (Barn- 
stable,) the  seat  of  the  sachem  lyanough,  "a  man  not  exceeding 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  but  very  personable,  gentle,  courteous,  and 
ftiir  conditioned;  indeed,  not  like  a  savage,  saving  for  his  attire. 
His  entertainment  was  answerable  to  his  parts,  and  his  cheer  plenti- 
ful and  various.  One  thing,"  proceeds  the  narrator,  "was  very 
grievous  to  us  at  this  place.  There  was  an  old  woman,  whom  we 
judged  to  be  no  less  than  a  hundred  years  old,  wliich  came  to  see 
us,  because  she  never  saw  English;  yet  could  not  behold  us  without 
breaking  out  into  great  passion,"  (emotion,)  "weeping  and  crying 
excessively.  We  demanding  the  reason  of  it,  they  told  us  she  had 
three  sons,  who,  when  Master  Hunt  was  in  these  parts,  went  aboard 
his  ship  to  trade  with  him,  and  he  carried  them  captives  into  Spain, 
(for  Tisquantum,"  (Squanto)  "was  at  that  time  carried  away  also,) 
by  which  means  she  was  deprived  of  the  tomfort  of  her  .children  in 
her  old  age.  We  told  them  we  were  sorry  that  any  Englishman 
should  gi\rc  them  that  offence,  that  Hunt  was  a  bad  man,  and  that 
all  the  English  that  heard  it  condemL,  ^  him  for  the  same;  but  for 


98 


AMERICA   IL7  USTRATED. 


US,  we  -would  not  offer  them  any  such  injury,  though  it  would  gain 
us  all  the  skins  in  the  country.  So  we  gave  her  some  small  trifles, 
which  somewhat  appeased  her." 


CH APT  EH   ?L 

ARRIVAL   OF   THE  FORTUNE. — CHALLENGE  FROM  CANONICDS: 

HIS    SUPERSTITIOUS    DREAD. PLYMOUTH    FORTIFIED. — 

WESTON'S   COLONY    AT   WEYMOUTH:    ITS   MISERABLE   CON- 
DITION.— MASSASOIT   ILL:    CURED    BY   THE    ENGLISH. 
— DANGEROUS    PLOT    REYEALED. 

A  SMALL  vessel,  called  the  Fortune,  in  November,  1621,  arrived 
at  Plymouth,  bringing  thirty-five  additional  emigrants — not  enough, 
indeed,  to  replace  those  who  had  already  perished  of  privation  and 
c.\po.<iire — and  bringing  neither  arnw  nor  provision  to  the  weak  and 
hungry  coionists.  That  the  settlement,  in  its  infancy,  was  not 
speedily  cut  off,  was  due  only  to  the  friendliness  of  Massasoit  and 
other  cliicfs,  and  to  the  courageous  attitude  of  the  few  Englishmen 
who  remained  alive.  By  the  energy  and  promptitude  of  Standish,  a 
germ  of  native  hostility  was  suppressed,  and  many  petty  chieftains 
even  subscribed  their  marks  to  an  acknowledgment  of  allegiance  to 
the  king  of  England.  One  Ilobbamock,  a  noted  ])aniese  or  warrior 
of  Mas.sa.«oit,  came  to  live  with  the  English,  and  during  the  rest  of 
his  life,  was  faithful  to  their  service. 

Canonicus,  the  great  sachem  of  the  Narragansctts,  who,  at  one 
time,  had  sent  a  friendly  message  to  the  colonists,  for  some  unknown 
reason — perhaps  the  arrival  of  the  additional  emigrants — changing 
his  policy,  assumed  an  attitude  of  open  hostility.  lie  sent  a  mes- 
senger to  Plymouth,  who,  without  any  explanation,  presented  "a 
bundle  of  new  arrows,  lapped  in  a  rattlesnake's  skin."  The  English, 
ama>jed  at  this  odd  present,  were  informed  by  Squanto,  "that  it  im- 
ported enmity,  and  was  no  better  than  a  challenge."  On  hearing 
this,  the  governor,  with  mtich  spirit,  drawing  forth  the  arrows,  stuffed 
the  skin,  in  turn,  with  powder  and  shot,  and  sent  it  back,  adding 
a  bold  message  of  defiance.  The  hostile  chief,  hi!<  superstition 
awakened  by  the  m^'tsi  ;rious  contents  of  the  skin,  declined  taking 


THE   SETTLEMENT    OF    NEW   ENGLAND. 


99 


up  the  gauntlet  he  had  so  hastily  thrown  down — "insomuch  as  he 
would  not  once  touch  the  powder  and  shot,  nor  suffer  it  to  stay  in 
his  house  or  country.  "Whereupon,  the  messenger  refusing  it,  an- 
other took  it  up;  and  having  been  posted  from  place  to  place  a  long 
time,  at  length  it  came  whole  back  again."  Vigilance  being  thus 
awakened  among  the  colonists,  they  fortified  the  town,  and  under 
the  direction  of  Standish,  observed  strict  rules  of  discipline.  Squanto 
also  thought  proper  to  do  his  part,  by  informing  his  countrymen 
that  tlie  English  had  the  plague  buried  in  their  store-house,  and 
could  let  it  loose  on  the  whole  country,  if  they  had  a  mind. 

In  the  summer  of  1B22,  two  vessels  were  disjiatched  from  Eng- 
land by  a  Mr.  "Weston,  which  landed  at  Wessagusset  (Weymouth) 
some  fifty  or  sixty  idle  and  profligate  emigrants.  By  their  sbiftless- 
ness,  and  the  encroachments  of  the  n(;ighbouring  savages,  (who  soon 
saw  of  what  stuff  they  were  made,)  they  were  reduced  ere  long  to  a 
woeful  condition.  In  March  of  the  same  spring,  a  messenger  was 
dispatched  to  Plymouth  with  "a  pitiful  narration  of  their  lamentable 
and  weak  estate,  and  of  the  Indians'  carriages,"  (demeanour,)  "whose 
boldness  increased  abundantly,  insomuch  that  the  victuals  they  got, 
they  would  take  out  of  their  pots,  and  eat  before  their  faces;  yea,  if 
in  anything  they  gainsaid  them,  they  were  ready  to  hold  a  knife  at 
their  breasts;  that,  to  f/ive  them  content^  they  had  hanjed  one  cf  them, 
that  stole  the  Indians  co/»,  and  j'ct  they  regarded  it  not;  that  one  of 
their  company  was  turned  salvage;  that  their  people  liad  mostly 
forsaken  the  town,  and  made  their  rendezvous  where  they  got  their 
victual,  because  they  would  not  take  the  pains  to  bring  it  home; 
that  thev  had  sold  their  clothes  for  corn,  and  were  readv  to  starve 
both  with  cold  and  hunger  also,  because  they  could  not  endure  to 
got  victuals  by  reason  of  their  nakedness." 

These  disagreeable  tidings  of  Indian  hostility  were  presently 
alarmingly  confirmed.  News  arriving  that  Massasoit  was  mortally 
ill,  Winslow,  with  Ilobbainock  and  another  companion,  was  dis- 
jiatched  to  his  assistance,  with  such  simple  remedies  as  the  poverty 
of  the  colony  could  afford.  The  goodness  of  the  chief  and  the  at- 
tachment of  his  followers  was  evidenced  by  the  grief  of  Ilobbamock, 
who,  on  the  way,  "manifesting  a  troubled  spirit,  brake  forth  into 
these  speeches:  Xeen  womasu  sajamusf  Neen  tvomasii  sufjamiisl 
&c. — 'My  loving  .sachem,  my  loving  sachem!  Afany  have  I  known, 
but  never  any  like  thee.'  And  turning  him  to  mo"  (Winslow) 
"said,  whilst  1  lived  I  .should  never  see  his  like  among  the  Indiuua; 


100 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


saying  he  was  no  liar,  he  was  not  bloody  and  cruel,  like  other  In- 
dians; in  anger  and  passion  he  was  soon  reclaimed;  easy  to  be 
reconciled  toward  such  as  had  offended  him;  ruled  by  reason  in 
such  measure  that  he  would  not  scorn  the  advice  of  mean"  (humble) 
"  men ;  and  that  he  governed  his  men  better  with  few  strokes  than 
others  did  with  many;  truly  loving  where  he  loved;  yea,  he  feared 
we  had  not  a  faithful  friend  left  among  the  Indians;  showing  how 
he  oft  times  restrained  their  malice,  &c.,  continuing  a  long  speech, 
with  such  signs  of  lamentation  and  unfeigned  sorrow,  as  it  would 
have  made  the  hardest  heart  relent." 

Arriving  at  Pokanoket,  the  visitors,  with  difficulty,  forced  their 
way  into  the  king's  house,  which  was  so  crowded  with  Indians,  that, 
although  the  latter  did  their  best  to  make  a  passage,  it  was  no  easy 
matter.  This  asscmbl}^  was  performing  incantations  for  his  relief, 
"making  such  a  hellish  noise,"  says  "Winslow,  "as  it  distempered  us 
that  were  well,  and  therefore  unlike  to  ease  him  that  was  sick." 
His  sight  was  quite  gone,  but  on  hearing  who  had  come,  he  put  forth 
his  hand,  and  took  that  of  the  Englishman.  "Then  he  said  twice, 
though  very  inwardly,"  (faintly,)  "/v'en  Winsnov:?  which  is  to  say, 
'Art  tliou  Winslow'?  I  answered  Alihc,  that  is  yes.  Then  he 
doubled  these  words,  Mitla  ncen  ivondauet  mimen,  W-insnoic!  that 
is  to  say,  *0h,  Winslow,  I  shall  neycr  see  thee  again.'"  Despite 
the  unfavourable  circumstances,  his  guest  contrived  to  get  down  his 
throat  a  "confection  of  many  comfortable  conserves,"  which  wrought 
BO  cfl'ectually  that  the  patient  soon  began  to  mend  apace.  The  other 
sick  in  his  village  was  also  physicked  and  tended  by  the  good  Wins- 
low; and  Massasoit,  finding  himself  recovering,  "broke  forth  into  the 
following  sjiecchcs,  'Now  I  see  the  Knglish  are  my  friends  and  love 
me;  and  whilst  I  live,  I  will  never  forget  this  kindness  they  have 
showed  me.'"  In  gratitude,  he  revealed  a  formidable  plot  among 
the  Massachusetts  and  otlier  tribes,  which  he  had  lately  been  solicited 
to  join,  for  the  destruction  of  the  two  settlements  of  Plymouth  and 
Wessagusset. 

Followed  by  the  blessings  of  the  whole  village,  the  Englishmen 
returned,  lodging  on  their  way,  at  Mattapoiset,  with  the  sachem 
Caunbitant,  whose  attitude  had  been  dubious,  and  whom  thev  wished 
to  conciliate.  "By  the  way,"  says  our  old  traveller,  "I  had  much 
conference  with  him,  so  likewise  at  his  house,  ho  being  a  notable 
politician,  yet  full  of  merry  jests  and  squib.s,  and  never  better  pleased 
than  when  the  like  are  returned  again  u])on  him."     The  peo]tle  of 


Jj 


TUE   SETTLEMENT    OF   NEW   ENGLAND. 


iOl 


this  town  Winslow  endeavoured  to  impress  with  the  truths  c^  reli- 
gion, and  especially  of  the  ten  commandments;  "all  which  they 
hearkened  unto  with  great  attention;  and  liked  well  of;  only  the 
seventh  commandment  they  excepted  against,  thinking  there  were 
many  inconveniences  in  it.' 


KJ     U/w      wO*     til         ur       liJ     dih  V        uf      X   o 

EXPEDITION'   OF   STAXDISII    TO    WEYMOUTH.  —  PARING   POLICY. 
—  SLAUGHTER   OP   TUE   CONSPIRING    INDIANS. — THE   COL- 
ONY  OP    WESTON    BROKEN    UP.  —  PRIVATIONS   AND    SUF- 
FERINGS   AT    PLYMOUTH:    DROUGHT:    SEASON ARLE 
SUPPLY     OF     RAIN. ADDITIONAL     ARRIVAL. 


The  information  given  by  Massasoit  being  confirmed  by  further 
evidence,  it  was  resolved,  with  extraordinary  boldness,  to  take  the 
offensive,  and  strike  a  deadly  blow  at  the  heads  of  the  conspiracy. 
Captain  Standish,  with  only  eight  companions,  set  forth  for  Wessa- 
cu.s3et,  to  protect  the  people  there,  and  especially  to  get  the  head  of 
one  of  the  chief  conspirators — "  Wittawamut,  a  notable  insulting 
villain,  who  had  formerly  imbued  his  hands  in  the  blood  of  French 
and  English,  and  had  oft  boasted  of  his  own  valor  and  derided  their 
weakness,  especially  because,  as  he  said,  they  died  crying,  making  sour 
faces,  more  like  children  than  men."  The  captain,  on  arriving  there, 
warned  the  settlers  of  their  danger,  and  collected  them  within  the 
town.  An  Indian  spy,  who  presently  entered,  under  pretence  of 
trading  in  furs,  reported  to  his  people  that,  though  he  spoke 
smoothly,  "he  Siiw  by  his  e3'e3  that  he  was  angry  in  his  heart."' 
Seeing  their  plot  discovered,  the  conspiring  chiefs  made  no  attempt 
to  conceal  their  enmity.  "One  Pecksuot,  who  was  a  panie.se,  being  a 
man  of  notable  spirit,"  told  Ilobbamock,  who  had  come  witii  the 
party,  that  they  had  heard  that  Standisli  was  come  to  kill  them— 
"trll  him,"  he  s.iid,  "we  know  it,  but  fear  him  not,  neither  will  we 
pbun  him;  but  let  him  begin  when  he  dare,  he  shall  not  kiko  us  at 
unawares." 

One  or  two  at  a  time,  the  savages  would  present  themselves,  whet' 
ting  their  knives  before  the  captain's  face,  and  nuiking  other  men- 


Jj 


102 


AMEKICA   ILLL"STI:ATED. 


acing  gestures.  "Amongst  the  rest,  Wittawamut  bragged  of  the 
excellency  of  his  knife.  On  the  end  of  the  handle  was  pictured  a 
woman's  face,  'but,'  said  he,  'I  have  another  at  home  that  hath  killed 
both  French  and  English,  and  that  hath  a  man's  face  on  it;  and  by 
and  by  these  two  must  marry.'  Further  he  said  of  that  knife  he 
there  had,  Ilannaini  namen,  hannaim  michen,  malla  cuts,  that  is  to 
say,  '  By  and  by  it  should  see,  and  by  and  by  it  should  eat,  but  not 
speak'  *  *  These  things  the  captain  observed,  yet  bare  with 
patience  for  the  present. 

"On  the  next  day,  seeing  he  could  not  get  many  together  at  once, 
and  this  Pecksuot  and  Wittawamut  being  both  together,  with  an- 
other man,  and  a  youth  of  some  eighteen  years  of  age  (which  was 
broj^her  to  Wittawamut,  and,  villain-like,  trod  in  his  steps)  and  iiav- 
ing  about  as*  many  of  his  own  company  in  a  room  with  them,  gave 
the  word  to  his  men,  and  the  door  having  been  fast  shut,  began 
himself  with  Pecksuot,  and  snatching  his  own  knife  from  his  neck, 
though  with  much  struggling,  killed  him  therewith,  (the  point 
whereof  he  had  made  as  sharp  as  a  needle  and  ground  the  back  also 
to  an  edge.)  "Wittawamut  and  the  other  man  the  rest  killed,  and 
took  the  3'outh,  whom  the  captain  caused  to  be  hanged.  But  it  is 
incredible  how  many  wounds  these  two  pineses"  (panieses)  "received 
before  they  died,  not  making  any  fearful  noise,  but  catching  at  their 
weapons  and  striving  to  the  last."  Three  more  were  killed  by  the 
same  party,  and  in  a  fight  in  the  woods  (in  which  Ilobbamock  took 
an  active  part)  the  Indians  were  defeated  and  put  to  flight. 

The  news  of  these  successes  was  received  with  much  joy  at  Ply- 
mouth, and  the  head  of  Wittawamut,  a  grisly  token  of  vengeance, 
was  affixed  to  the  fort  at  that  place.  The  worthy  Kobinson,  indeed, 
received  the  account  of  this  sanguinary  (thou^'h  perha[)s  necessary) 
afiiiir,  with  great  grief  and  mortification.  "Would,"  he  writes  la- 
mentingly  to  his  exiled  people,  "that  you  had  converted  some  of 
them  before  you  killed  any." 

Weston's  colony,  which  had  proved  so  miserably  unfitted  for  the 
country,  was  now  ccm])letely  broken  up;  a  part  of  the  settlers  pro- 
ceeding to  Manhegin,  and  the  rest  accompanying  Standish  to  Ply- 
mouth. They  might  probably  have  remained  in  security  where  they 
were;  for  such  an  impression  did  this  fierce  and  cncrrretie  conduct 
make  on  the  hostile  savages,  that,  for  fifty  years  they  made  no 
further  attempts  against  the  Kngliah. 

The  suninier  of  IG'23  brought  grievous  famine  and  distrcsa,  the 


f 


THE   SETTLEMENT   OF  NEW   ENGLANL*. 


103 


colonists  being  compelled  to  search  the  woods  for  nuts  and  the  sea 
sands  for  clams,  as  their  only  sustenance.  Once,  it  is  said,  a  pint  of 
corn  being  the  entire  stock  of  provisions  in  the  town,  it  was  divided, 
giving  five  kernels  to  each — an  incident  since  commemorated,  by  a 
similar  division  at  the  entertainments  of  their  descendants,  in  the 
same  venerated  spot.  A  long  drought  also  threatened  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  crops,  to  secure  which  all  their  little  store  of  coru  had 
been  planted.  These  sufferings  they  bore  with  extraordinary  forti- 
tude and  cheerfulness;  and  finally  set  aside  a  day  of  fasting  and 
humiliation,  and  prayer  for  relief  to  God,  "if  our  continuance  there 
might  any  way  stand  with  his  glory  and  our  good" — a  sublime  and 
touching  sentiment.  Toward  the  close  of  the  day,  clouds  gathered, 
"and  on  the  next  morning,"  says  the  narrator,  with  quaint  eloquence, 
"distilled  such  soft,  sweet,  and  moderate  showers  of  rain,  continuing 
some  fourteen  days  and  mixed  with  such  seasonable  weather,  as  it 
were  hard  to  say  whether  our  withered  corn,  or  our  drooping  affec- 
tions, were  most  quickened  and  revived;  such  was  the  bounty  and 
goodness  of  our  God." 

The  Indians  were  greatly  surprised  at  this  unlooked-for  result,  and 
especially,  according  to  Winslow,  at  "the  difference  between  their 
conjuration,  and  our  invocation  to  God  for  rain;  theirs  being  mixed 
with  such  storms  and  tempests,  as  sometimes,  instead  of  doing  them 
good,  it  layeth  the  corn  flat  on  the  ground,  to  their  prejudice;  but 
ours  in  so  gentle  and  seasonable  a  manner,  as  they  had  never  ob- 
served the  like."  The  harvest  proved  plentiful,  and  all  fear  of 
starvation  was  allayed.  In  July  and  August  of  the  same  summer, 
t'vo  ships,  with  sixty  additional  settlers,  arrived.  In  a  letter  sent  by 
those  who  yet  remained,  was  the  following  prophetic  and  consoling 
sentiment:  "Let  it  not  be  grievous  to  3'ou  that  you  have  been  the 
instruments  to  break  the  ice  for  others  who  come  after  you  with  less 
diOiculty;  the  honor  shall  he  yours  to  tlie  world's  end:  we  bear  you 
always  in  our  breasts,  and  our  hearty  affection  is  toward  you  all,  as 
arc  the  hc^ite  of  hundreds  more  who  never  saw  your  faces," 


104  AMEKICA  ILLUSTKATED. 

CHAPTER   ?IIL 

NEW  SETTLEMENTS  FOUNDED:   NEW  HAMPSHIRE  AND   MAINE 

— ENDICOTT'S     COMPANY. — THE     REVELLERS     OF     MERRY 

MOUNT:  BROKEN  UP  BY  THE  PUIWTANS. — SETTLEMENT  OP 

MASSACHUSETTS. — FOUNDATION  OF   BOSTON  — GREAT 

EMIGRATION. —  MORTALITY  AND  SUFFERING. 

The  progress  of  the  Plymouth  colony  was  slow,  but  sure,  and 
although  the  original  settlement,  at  the  end  of  ten  years,  numbered 
but  three  hundred  souls,  at  an  early  day,  it  began  to  send  offshoots 
into  the  adjoining  regions.  In  1625,  their  admirable  pastor,  Robin- 
son, died  at  Leyden,  having  been  prevented  from  emigrating  by  an 
adverse  influence  in  England.  The  remainder  of  his  congregation, 
as  soon  as  practicable,  joined  their  brethren  in  America.  Enterprise, 
directed  to  the  same  region,  was  revived  in  the  mother-countrj'. 
New  patents  were  issued  to  Gorges  and  other  projectors,  and  settle- 
ments, as  early  as  1623,  were  made  on  the  banks  of  the  Pit;cataqua. 
Portsmouth  and  Dover  were  settled,  and  the  foundation  of  New 
Hampshire  was  thus  permanently  laid.  That  of  Maine  was  not  long 
in  succeeding,  the  temporary  trading  and  fishing  stations  on  its  coast 
being  gradually  converted  to  permanent  occupation.  Roger  Conant, 
a  man  of  extraordinary  courage  and  perseverance,  with  only  three 
companions,  laid  the  foundation  of  a  settlement  at  Naumkcag  (now 
Salem)  near  Cape  Ann.  Preparations  for  a  Puritan  emigration,  oh 
an  extensive  scale,  were  made  in  England ;  and  in  the  summer  of 
1628,  John  Endicott,  a  man  of  brave  and  religious,  but  rugged  and 
bigoted  nature,  with  about  a  hundred  companions,  arrived  at  the 
diminutive  outpost  of  Salem.  The  vigorous  and  practical  s])irit  of 
Puritanism,  as  well  as  its  more  gloomy  and  ascetic  qualifications 
were  not  long  in  making  their  demonstration. 

"  A  small  settlement,  named  Mount  WuUaston,  (Quinci-),  had  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  one  Thomas  Morton,  described  as  *a  petty  fo''"ina 
attorney  of  Furnival's  Inn,'  who,  with  a  crew  of  di.ssolutc  compau 
ions,  lived  there  in  much  excess  and  licentiousnes.s.  lie  changed 
the  name  of  the  place  to  Merry  Blount  ('as  if  ui"  jollity  could  have 
lasted  always')  and,  besides  selling  fiie-arms  to  the  Indian.s,  kept  a 
haunt  for  all  the  idle  serving  men  and  lewd  coini)anions  in  the  coun- 
try.    Thus  they  lived  for  some  time,  'vainly  quafling  and  drinkin-^ 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF  KEW   ENGLAND. 


105 


AINB 

:rry 

OF 
T 


f 

lire 
f 


both  wine  and  strong  liquors  in  great  excess  (as  some  have  reported, 
ten  pound's  worth  in  a  morning)  setting  up  a  May-pole,  drinking 
and  dancing  about  it,  and  frisking  about  it  like  so  many  fairies,  or 
furies  rather — yea,  and  worse  practices.  *  *  *  '1\q 
said  Morton,  likewise,  to  show  his  poetry,  composed  sundry  rhymes 
and  verses,  some  tending  to  lasciviousness,  and  others  to  the  detrac- 
tion and  scandal  of  some  persons'  names,  which  he  affixed  to  his  idle 
or  idol  May-pole.' 

"These  dissolute  courses  received  their  first  check  from  'that 
worthy  gentleman,  Mr.  John  Endicott,'  who,  soon  after  the  founda- 
tion of  his  settlement,  paid  them  a  visit,  cut  down  their  May-pole, 
read  them  a  terrible  lecture,  and  once  more  changed  the  name  of 
their  abode,  callinjc  it  Mount  Dajion.  The  whole  communitv  was 
finall}'  broken  up  by  a  small  force  dispatched  from  Plymouth,  under 
Captain  Standish.  This  party  seized  Morton,  and  'demolished  his 
house,  that  it  might  no  longer  be  a  roost  for  such  unclean  birds.' 
The  culprit  was  sent  over  seas.  'Notwithstanding,  in  England  he 
got  free  again,  and  wrote  an  infamous  and  scurrilous  book  against 
many  of  the  godly  and  chief  men  of  the  country,  full  of  lies  and 
slanders,  and  full  fraught  with  profane  calumnies  against  their  names 
and  persons  and  the  ways  of  God.'  Returning  imprudently  to  Bos- 
ton, he  was  imprisoned  'for  the  aforesaid  book  and  other  things,' 
and  finally  '  being  grown  old  in  wickedness,  at  last  ended  his  life  in 
Piscataqua.'  "* 

'Mixny  persons  of  wealth  and  eminence  of  the  Puritan  party  having 
formed  the  design  of  emigration,  a  charter,  in  1629,  was  obtained 
from  the  king  for  the  formation  of  a  new  company,  under  the  title 
of  the  "Governor  and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New 
England."  In  the  latter  part  of  June,  that  same  year,  two  hundred 
more  emigrants,  dispatched  by  this  corporation,  arrived  at  Salem,  and 
a  new  settlement  was  founded  at  Charlestown.  During  the  months 
of  June  and  July,  1630,  eleven  ships,  bearing  a  great  number  of 
emigrants,  arrived  in  Massachusetts  Bay.  At  this  time,  the  only- 
person  living  on  the  peninsula  of  Shawmut  (the  site  of  the  ])resent 
city  of  Boston)  was  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  the  llev.  William  Black- 
stone,  who,  on  account  of  ecclesiastical  scruples,  had  quitted  Eng- 
land, and  betaken  himself  to  tlie  American  wilderness.  Ue  had 
built  a  cottage  and  planted  an  orchard.  The  new  comers  first 
settled  at  Charlestown,  where  a  small  colony  had  already  been  estab- 

•  Discoverers,  &.C.,  of  America. 


~7l 


106 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


lished;  but,  on  the  invitation  of  Mr.  Blackstone,  and  attracted  by 
tlie  natural  advantages  of  tbe  place,  their  governor,  the  celebrated 
John  Winthrop,  with  other  persons  of  distinction,  removed  thither. 
The  principal  place  of  the  plantation  was,  accordingly,  erected  on 
that  admirable  locality,  which,  in  all  the  wide  region  of  which  it  is 
the  metropolis,  could  hardly  find  a  rival,  in  beauty  or  convenience. 
In  the  course  of  the  year,  five  more  vessels,  with  more  emigrants, 
making  the  number  fifteen  hundred,  arrived.  Buildings  were  erected 
with  all  possible  dispatch,  but  such  were  the  numbers,  that  proper 
shelter  for  all  was  unobtainable.  Before  December,  two  hun- 
dred had  died  of  disease  occasioned  by  their  hardships,  and  more 
than  a  hundred  had  retreated  to  England,  These  sufferings  were 
endured  with  much  fortitude  by  the  survivors.  "We  here  enjoy 
God  and  Jesus  Christ,"  wrote  Winthrop  (who  had  lost  a  son)  to  his 
wife,  "and  is  not  this  enough?  I  would  not  have  altered  my  course, 
though  I  had  foreseen  all  these  afflictions.  I  never  had  more  peace 
of  mind."  Despite  these  discouragements,  the  spirit  of  enterprise 
was  fairly  awakened  in  the  Puritan  party,  and  during  the  next  few 
years,  such  numbers  continued  to  flock  to  the  new  colon}',  that  an 
Order  in  Council  was  issued  by  the  king  to  restrain  the  emigration. 
Nevertheless,  for  a  long  time,  great  numbers  of  the  persecuted  faction 
resorted  to  Massachusetts — the  year  16o5  being  especially  memorable 
for  the  arrival  of  a  large  company,  among  whom  were  the  afterwards 
celebrated  Ilugh  Peters  (chaplain  to  Cromwell)  and  Mr.  (afterwards 
Sir  Henry)  Vane,  who,  the  year  after  his  arrival,  was  elected  gov- 
ernor. It  is  said  that  Hampden,  Cromwell,  and  Pym,  (three  names 
the  most  formidable  in  the  great  revolution,)  had  also  embarked, 
but,  by  an  order  of  court,  were  constrained  to  remain,  to  the 
Rtruction  of  the  power  and  the  person  that  withheld  them. 


d.: 


y 


^D 


THE   SETTLEMENT   OF    NEW   ENGLAND. 


107 


Ij   JLtL    u6i\i    iL      (L    Jj    JjX      Jt    (cOh)  a 


CHARACTER  OF  THB  FOUNDERS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. — REGU- 
LATIONS   FOR    PUBLIC    MORALITY:    FOR    APPAREL,   ETC. — 
AMUSING   PENALTIES. — INTO.LERANCE  IN  RELIGION. 
— COMMENCEMENT    OF     PERSECUTION. 


"The  wealth  and  importance  of  tins  new  community  were  com- 
mensurate with  the  growing  power  of  the  Puritan  party.  That 
party,  originally  so  humble  and  depressed,  was  already  beginning 
to  uplift  its  voice  in  the  councils  of  the  English  nation,  and  to  pro- 
voke fresh  and  suicidal  efforts  of  that  arbitrary  power,  which  was 
destined,  ere  long,  to  fall,  with  such  terrible  circumstances,  before  it. 
Accordingl}'-,  the  men  who  now  transferred  their  fortunes  to  the 
New  "World,  though  aiming,  as  earnestly  as  their  predecessors,  at 
the  foundation  of  a  religious  commonwealth,  brought  with  them 
somewhat  of  that  insolence  which  is  always  the  handmaid  of  new 
prosperity.  'Their  characters,'  says  the  candid  and  judicious  Baylies, 
'were  more  elevated,  but  their  dispositions  were  less  kindly,  and 
their  tempers  more  austere,  sour,  and  domineering  than  those  of  their 
Plymouth  brethren.  They  had  brought  themselves  to  a  positive  con- 
viction of  their  own  evangelical  purity  and  perfect  godliness,  and 
therefore  they  tolerated  not  even  the  slightest  difference  in  theolo- 
gical opinions.'  They  were  composed,  in  short,  of  that  stuff  which, 
according  to  circumstances,  makes  a  martyr  or  a  persecutor;  and, 
unfortunately  for  their  reputation,  the  latter  had  opportunity  for 
development.  This,  however,  can  hardly  be  laid  at  the  door  of 
their  faith.  Ilaving  power  to  persecute,  they  persecuted;  and  where 
is  the  religious  community,  which,  having  such  power,  ever  forbore 
to  use  it?  Until,  indeed,  aroused  by  opposition  (which  did  not 
occur  for  many  years,  the  arbitrary  and  intolerant  spirit  of  the  author- 
ities, for  the  most  part,  lay  dormant,  only  indulging  itself  in  muni- 
cipal regulations  and  fantastic  penalties,  rather  fitted  to  provoke 
niirih  than  indignation."* 

Though  the  sweeping  generalities  and  searching  particulars  of  a 
"Maine  Law,"  never  suggested  themselves  to  the  legislation  of  our 
forefathers,  acta  for  the  restraint  of  intemperance  were  not  wanting. 

*  Discoverers,  &.C.,  of  America. 


108 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


As  early  as  1634,  we  find  a  traveller  complaining  that  if  a  gentleman 
went  into  either  of  the  two  public  houses  in  Boston,  he  was  followed 
by  an  officer  appointed  for  the  purpose,  who  watched  his  potations 
narrowly,  and  when  of  opinion  that  he  had  enough,  would  counter- 
mand his  orders,  and  cut  off  all  further  supply — "  beyond  which,'' 
says  our  author,  bitterly,  "he  could  not  get  one  drop!"  Another 
ordinance  enjoined  on  all  constables  to  keep  special  watch  over  all 
"common  coasters,  unprofitable  fowlers,  and  tobacco  takers."  But 
when  the  clergy  began  to  use  the  inhibited  weed,  the  severity  of 
this  provision,  was  relaxed.  Vanity  in  dress  was  severely  repre- 
hended, especially  "immoderate  great  sleeves,  slash  apparel,  and 
long-wigs."  Any  one  who  should  "give  offence  to  his  neighbor  by 
the  excessive  length  of  his  hair,"  might  be  airaigned  before  the 
General  Court,  and  compelled  to  remove  the  obnoxious  surplusage. 

No  regular  system  of  law,  common  or  statute,  being  adopted  at 
first,  sentences  of  punishment  were  framed  according  to  the  ingenious 
fancy  of  the  court.  These  sentences,  gravely  perpetuated  in  the 
records,  sound  oddly  enough  to  modern  jarisprudence.  Josias 
Plaistowe,  for  stealing,  is  fined,  and  doomed  thereafter  to  be  called 
Josias,  "and  not  Mr.  as  he  formerly  used  to  be."  "Mrs.  Cornish, 
found  suspicious  of  incontinency,"  is  (probably  in  default  of  suffi- 
cient evidence  for  conviction)  "seriously  admonished  to  take  heed." 
Mr.  Kobert  Shorthose,  who  had  thought  proper  to  swear  by  the  blood 
of  God,  is  adjudged  to  have  his  ''^ngue  put  in  a  cleft  stick,  and  so  to 
remain  for  half  an  hour.  Edward  Palmer,  who  had  made  a  new 
pair  of  stocks  for  the  town,  for  presenting  the  extortionate  bill  of 
two  pounds  and  upward,  is  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  five,  and  for 
one  hour  personally  to  test  the  efiicacy  of  his  own  handiwork — a 
salutary  warning  to  all  public  creditors.  Nothing  seems  to  have 
been  more  sharply  repressed  than  any  question  of  the  authority  of 
the  court.  In  1632,  according  to  the  record,  "Thomas  Knowcr  was 
set  in  the  bilboes  for  threatening  5'e  court,  that  if  he  should  be  pun- 
ished, he  would  have  it  tried  in  England,  whether  he  was  lawfully 
punished  or  no." 

Religious  conformil}'-,  at  first  not  enforced  to  a  sanguinary  extreme, 
was  a  regular  part  of  the  political  system.  All  persons,  under  pain 
of  a  fine,  were  compelled  to  attend  meeting.  Mr.  Painter,  it  seems, 
"on  a  sudden  turned  Anabaptist,"  and  would  not  have  his  child 
baptised,  "Whereupon,"  says  Governor  Winthrop,  Avith  delightful 
discrimination  between  an  opinion  and  the  expression  of  it,  "because 


•^vi  LL 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OJ)'  N  1    *   ENOLr*  N  D. 


109 


he  wtis  very  poor,  so  as  no  other  but  co  ral  pun  iment  (  Id  be 
fastened  on  him,  he  was  ordered  to  be  whipped,  not  for  hi<  <wbn, 
but  for  reproaching  the  Lord's  Ordinance.  lie  endured  hi  >umgh- 
rnent  with  much  obstinacy,  and  said,  boastingly,  that  God  id  mar- 
vellously assisted  him."  Hugh  Bretts,  for  heresy,  was  on!  rf-""  to 
be  gone  out  of  the  jurisdiction,  "and  not  return  again,  on  pain  of 
being  hanged."  By  a  piece  of  intolerance,  quite  as  unjustifiable  as 
any  which  the  Puritans  themselves  had  endured  in  England,  restraint 
was  laid  on  the  consciences  of  the  Indians,  who,  under  penalty  of 
five  pounds,  were  forbidden  to  worship  thp  devil,  or  to  practice  any  of 
the  religious  rites  of  their  forefathers.  It  was  ordered,  moreover,  at 
a  later  day,  that  if  any  negro  slaves  should  take  refuge  among  them, 
OS  many  Indians  should  be  "captivated"  in  their  place. 


RET.    ROGER   WILLIAMS.  —  HIS    LIBERAL    OPINIONS.  —  HE    I? 
PERSECUTED  BT  THE  AUTHORITIES  OP  MASSACHUSETTS. — 
EXPELLED   FROM   THAT  PROVINCE. — TAKES    REFUGE    IN 
THE    WILDERNESS.  —  FOUNDS    PROVIDENCE    PLANTA- 
TIONS AND  THE  STATE  OF  RHODE  ISLAND. 

Intolerance  in  the  province  of-  Massachusetts,  ere  long,  was  the 
exciting  cause  of  fresh  schemes  of  colonization.  Eoger  "Williams,  a 
clergyman  of  liberal  opinions  in  religion  and  enlightened  views  in 
politics,  in  1631,  attracted  by  the  expectation  of  tolerance  in  the 
newly-peopled  wilderness,  made  his  way  to  Boston.  lie  was  first 
settled  at  Salem,  but  on  account  of  the  illiberal  hostility  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts authorities,  who  had  some  idea  of  his  sentiments,  removed 
to  Plymouth,  where  he  was  appointed  assistant  minister,  and  by  his 
piety  and  eloquence,  became  much  endeared  to  the  people.  From 
benevolent  motives,  he  took  much  pains  to  learn  the  language  and 
manners  and  to  conciliate  the  affections  of  the  neighbouring  Indians. 
"God  was  pleased,"  he  says,  "to  give  me  a  painful,  patient  spirit,  to 
lodge  with  them  in  their  filthy,  smoky  holes,  even  while  I  lived  in 
Plymouth  and  Salem,  to  gain  their  tongue."  Massasoit  and  the  two 
great  sachems  of  the  Narragansetts  (Canonicus  and  his  nephew  ili- 


110 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


antonimo)  accorded  him  their  friendship — that  of  the  latter  eventu- 
ally proving  of  no  small  moment  to  the  prosperity  and  even  the 
existence  of  the  New  England  colonies.  He  resided  two  years  in 
Plymouth,  and  then  moved  again  to  Salem,  followed  by  a  considera- 
ble number  of  his  congregation. 

There  (August,  1634)  he  was  regularly  installed  as  pastor,  and  Ly 
his  liberal  preaching  speedily  revived  the  prejudice  and  hostility  of 
the  authorities.  In  that  day,  it  was  considered  a  startling  novelty 
to  declare  that  a  man  was  the  proper  guardian  of  his  own  religious 
belief,  and  that  the  state  had  no  right  to  intermeddle  with  it.  In 
reading  the  terrible  history  of  martyrdom,  three  reigns  before  this, 
we  do  not  find  many  objections  raised  to  the  practice  of  burning  men 
alive,  abstractly  considered — but  the  question  was  debated  with 
intense  earnestness  as  to  what  shade  of  opinion  was  fittest  to  be  re- 
pressed by  the  flames.  Probably  a  good  many  tenets  might  have  been 
enumerated,  which  nearly  all  parties  in  the  English  Church  would 
have  united  in  denouncing  as  worthy  of  punishment.  Yet,  doubtless, 
it  was  well  for  mankind  that  martyrdoms,  though  on  points  ostensibly 
the  most  trifling  and  immaterial,  should  have  been  bravely  undergone ; 
for,  if  it  had  once  been  established  that  death  and  suffering  would 
make  men  belie  the  faith  that  was  in  them,  self-will  and  error,  and 
consequent  misfortune  to  the  race,  would  have  found  the  means  for 
their  eternal  perpetuation.  To  the  end  of  time,  the  only  rule  would 
have  been  that  of  the  naturally  violent,  self  willed,  and  cruel.  But 
then,  and  long  after,  it  was  considered  allowable,  by  nearly  all  sects 
of  Christians,  to  repress  opinions  of  some  sort  by  the  strong  arm  of 
the  law.  It  was,  therefore,  to  the  no  small  annoyance  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts magistrates,  as  a  reflection  on  their  systematic  intolerance, 
that  the  preacher  boldly  announced  "that  no  human  power  had  the 
right  to  intermeddle  in  matters  of  conscience ;  and  that  neither  church, 
nor  state,  nor  bishop,  nor  priest,  nor  king,  may  prescribe  the  smallest 
iota  of  religious  faith.  For  this,  he  maintained,  a  man  is  responsible 
to  God  alone."  Especially  he  deprecated  the  unjust  laws  compelling 
universal  attendance  at  meeting  and  a  compulsory  support  of  the 
clergy,  affirming  that  the  civil  power  "extends  only  to  the  bodies 
and  goods,  and  outward  estates  of  men,"  and  maintaining  that  with 
their  belief  "the  civil  magistrate  may  not  intermeddle,  even  to  stop 
a  church  from  apostacy  and  heresy." 

He  had  frequently  been  censured  by  the  authorities  or  vexatiously 
summoned  before  them ;  and  on  the  promulgation  of  these  incendiary 


THE   SETTLEMENT  OF  NEW   ENGLAND. 


Ill 


doctrines,  as  they  were  considered,  immediate  steps  were  taken  to 
bring  him  to  justice.  Salem,  which  supported  him,  was  disfranchised, 
and  in  July,  1635,  the  rudacious  minister  was  put  regularly  on  trial, 
for  his  "dangerous  opinions."  After  a  protracted  debate,  he  and  his 
congregation  were  allowed  "time  to  consider  these  things  till  the 
next  General  Court,  and  then,  either  to  give  satisfaction,  or  expect 
the  sentence."  At  the  next  sitting,  in  October,  as  he  still  refused  to 
recant,  a  resolution  was  passed  that,  whereas  the  offender  "hath 
broached  and  divulged  divers  new  and  dangerous  opinions  against 
the  authority  of  magistrates,  and  yet  maintaineth  the  same  without 
any  retractation,"  his  sentence  should  be  banishment  from  the  colony 
Suffered  to  remain  for  a  time,  many  people  "taken  with  an  appre- 
hension of  his  godliness, "  resorted  to  him. 

In  alarm  at  this  evidence  of  his  popularity,  the  court  dispatched 
a  vessel  to  seize  and  transport  him  over  seas.  Informed  of  this 
design,  in  the  dead  of  winter,  (January,  1636)  he  left  his  family,  ;^.  J 
took  refuge  in  the  forest,  where,  passing  from  one  Indian  hut  {'. 
another,  ho  found  a  miserable  subsistence.  "These  ravens,"  he  .si; 
quaintly,  "fed  me  in  the  wilderness."  At  Mount  Hope,  Avhere  i'l 
aged  Massasoit  was  still  residing,  he  was  kindly  received,  anO  -ob- 
tained from  that  chief  a  grant  of  land  on  the  Seekonk  river.  Thither 
a  number  of  his  friends,  in  the  spring,  betook  themselves  from  Salem, 
and  commenced  a  plantation.  A  letter,  however,  presently  came 
from  Winslow,  the  governor  of  Plymouth,  advising  him  that  he  had 
settled  within  the  jurisdiction  of  that  colony,  and  requesting  him, 
for  fear  of  offonce  to  their  powerful  neighbour,  Massachusetts,  to 
remove  yet  a  little  farther.  The  fields  already  planted,  and  the 
partly-built  dwelling  were  abandoned,  and  with  five  comrades  ho 
passed  down  Seekonk  river  in  a  canoe,  in  quest  of  a  home  yet  deeper 
in  the  wilderness.  As  they  paddled  toward  its  mouth,  an  Indian  on 
the  high  western  bank  saluted  them  with  the  friendly  cry,  "  What 
cheer,  Netop,*  what  cheer!"  Espying  a  fair  spring  and  a  fertile 
country,  the  exiled  preacher  and  his  companions  landed,  and  founded 
the  new  colony  of  "Providence  Plantations,"  on  the  site  of  the  pop- 
ulous and  wealthy  city  which  yet  commemorates  the  name.  To  the 
honour  of  this  little  asssociation  of  free  spirits,  they  resolved  that 
the  majority  should  govern  in  civil  matters  and  in  none  other,  and 
the  settlement  speedily  became,  what  Williams  had  earnestly  desired 
it  should — "a  shelter  for  persons  distressed  in  conscience." 


Vol.  IV.— 36 


*  Friend. 


112 


AMEIMCA   1LLUSTKATP:D. 


By  his  influence  witli  the  Narragansett  sachems,  land  and  the  per- 
mission to  settle  had  been  obtained;  and  this  influence,  two  years 
after  the  f(3undation  of  Providence,  was  again  exerted  in  behalf  of  a 
large  number  of  persons,  expelled  from  Massachusetts  as  heretics, 
but  "lovingly  entertained"  at  the  new  colony  of  religious  freedom. 
On  very  moderate  terms  he  procured  for  them  a  grant  of  the  beauti- 
ful island  of  Ehode  Island,  which  has  since  given  its  name  to  the 
entire  state,  and  a  very  flourishing  settlement  soon  sprang  up  there. 
"It  was  not  price  or  money,"  he  writes,  many  years  afterwards,  "that 
could  have  purchased  lihodc  Island.  It  was  obtained  by  love;  by 
the  love  and  favor  which  that  honorable  gentleman  Sir  Ilenry  Vane 
and  myself  had  with  the  great  sachem  Miantonimo,  about  the  league 
which  I  })rocured  between  the  Ma.-'sachusetts  English  and  the  Nar- 
ragansetts,  in  the  Pequot  war."  (Tliat  war,  with  die  cau.ses  which 
originated  it,  and  the  important  influence  of  Williams,  in  behalf  of 
the  English,  will  presently  be  recounted.) 


SETTr,E.VENT  OF  CONNECTICUT  BY  PLYMOUTH:    BY  1[.\SSACHU- 

SETTS.  —  HARDSHIPS  OF  THE  COLONISTS. FOUNDATION  OP 

HARTFORD,   ETC. EMIGRATION  UNDER  HOOKER:    NEW 

HAVEN   FOUNDED. COMMENCEMENT  OP  THE  PEQBOT 

WAR.  —  INFLUENCE   OF    ROGER  WILLIAMS. 

A  SEITLEMENT  on  the  fertile  banks  of  the  v'^onnccticut  river  had 
been  projected  at  an  early  day,  and  the  flouri.shing  commonwealth 
of  Ma.ssachusett3  liad  been  urged  to  undertake  it;  but  the  autiiorities 
of  that  province,  deterred  l)y  many  opposing  circumstances,  c.-^pecially 
the  dread  of  Indian  hostility,  liad  deferred  or  neglected  it.  "With 
more  courage  and  enterj)ri.se,  the  little  colony  of  Plymouth  undertook 
the  task.  Thence,  in  October  of  lOOM,  AVilliam  Holmes  sailed  fur 
tlie  Connecticut  in  a  ve.<?sel,  carrying  the  frame  of  n  house,  and  a 
small  number  of  men,  to  establish  a  trading  post,  and  ])erhap3  a 
])lantatiiin.  Pa.^.^ing  up  that  river,  he  was  warned  oft  by  the  Dutch, 
who  had  a  small  fort  at  what  is  now  known  as  Hartford,  but  sailed 
on,  and  built  his  house  a  few  miles  above,  a  little  below  the  junction 
of  the  Furmington  and  Connecticut  rivcA. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF   NEW   ENGLAND. 


113 


The  example  thus  set,  emigration  from  Massachusetts  rapidly  fol- 
lowi.'(l.  In  October,  1635,  a  company  of  sixty — men,  women,  and 
chiklren — took  up  tbeir  march  westward  from  Massachusetts.  These 
people,  their  supplies  cut  off  by  the  freezing  of  tlie  river,  suffered 
groat  hardships,  and  numbers  betook  themselves  to  the  coast.  In 
May,  the  next  year,  a  much  larger  emigration  occurred — a  hundred 
colonists,  under  the  Eev.  Thomas  Ilooker,  a  divine  eminent  for  his 
eloquence  and  piety,  proceeding  overland  in  the  same  direction.  A 
numerous  drove  of  cattle,  the  milk  of  which  sustained  them  on  the 
wo\-,  was  driven  before  them.  Small  settlements  had  already  been 
made  at  Hartford,  ^Vethcrs^leld,  and  Windsor,  and  a  form  of  gov- 
cjpment  had  been  instituted  at  an  early  day.  By  the  end  of  the  year 
lOut),  about  eight  hundred  settlers  had  made  their  way  to  the  banks 
of  the  Connecticut. 

Not  long  aftcAvards  (April,  1638)  a  new  colony  of  Puritans  was 
founded  at  New  Uaven,  under  the  two  friends,  Theophilus  Eaton, 
and  the  Kev.  John  Davenport,  the  former  of  whom,  until  his  death, 
for  twenty  years  held  by  election  the  office  of  governor.  Villages 
and  plantations,  springing  from  this  source,  spread  rapidly  along  the 
shores  of  Long  Island  Sound.  An  Indian  war,  the  first  in  New 
England,  almost  immediately  after  the  foundation  of  the  settlementa 
on  the  Connecticut,  menaced  their  destruction.  To  avenge  certain 
murders  committed,  years  before,  by  the  Pequots,  Massachusetts  had 
dispatched  an  ex[)cdition  b}'  sea,  which  committed  w'anton  and  indis- 
criminate rcpri.-als.  Hostilities  thus  precipitated,  a  murderous  war- 
fare ensued.  Cotton  Mather,  indeed,  sees  fit  to  ascribe  the  whole 
matter,  i\s  usual,  to  the  direct  intervention  of  the. enem}'.  "Two 
colonies  of  ciiurches,"  he  says,  "being  thus  browjht forth,  and  a  third 
couoifuf,  within  the  bounds  of  New  England,  it  was  time  for  the 
devil  to  take  the  (durum,  and  make  some  attempt  in  oj^position  to 
the  j^o^seysioii  which  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  was  going  to  have  of  these 
tdiiiiibt  parts  o/tne  earth.  These ^ki/^a'  were  then  covered  with  nations 
of  barbarous  in'Uans  and  infidels,  in  whom  i\\c  prince  of  tJic  power  of 
the  air  did  uvrlc  as  a  spirit;  nor  could  it  bo  expected  that  nations  of 
wretche.><,  whose  whole  rdi;/ion  was  tiie  most  explicit  sort  of  dcril- 
uvnhip  should  not  bo  acted  by  the  i\o\\\  to  engage  in  some  early 
and  bloody  action,  for  the  extinction  of  a  i)lantation  so  contrary  to 
his  interests,  as  that  of  Xcw  EiKjUuid  was." 

Whatever  the  cause,  the  whole  weight  of  Indian  hostility  and 
resentment  ft-'li  on  the  feeble  settlements  of  Connecticut.     The  Pe- 


114 


AMERICA  ILLUSTKATED. 


quots  kept  constant  watch  to  surprise  all  stragglers,  and  frequently 
put  their  captives  to  death  with  the  most  cruel  torments.  A  small 
fort  had  been  erected  by  the  English  at  Saybrook,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  and  the  little  garrison,  under  Iheir  governor,  Gardiner, 
held  out  against  the  besieging  savages  with  much  resolution.  Sas- 
sacus,  the  principal  sachem  of  the  hostile  tribe,  now  used  every  ex- 
ertion to  gain  the  alliance  of  his  old  enemies,  the  Narragansetts, 
sending  ambassadors  to  Canonicus  and  Aliantonimo,  urging  every 
motive  of  policy  and  self-preservation  for  the  relinquishment  of  their 
feud  and  uniting  their  arms  against  the  common  enemy.  This  piece 
of  diplomacy  was  defeated  by  the  agency  of  Eoger  Williams,  whose 
influence  with  those  great  sachems  has  been  already  mentioned, 
and  who,  at  the  request  of  the  Massachusetts  authorities,  promptly 
set  forth  in  his  canoe,  and  made  his  way,  in  a  dangerous  storm,  to  the 
Narragansett  court.  There  he  stayed  for  three  days,  countervailing 
by  his  persuasions  the  arguments  of  the  Pequot  ambassadors,  whose 
hands  were  still  reeking  with  the  blood  of  his  countrymen,  and 
"from  whom  he  nightly  looked  for  their  bloody  knives  at  his  throat 
also."  These  persuasions,  combined  with  ancient  enmity,  outweighed 
the  influence  of  the  Pequots,  and  Canonicus  entered  into  league  with 
the  English. 


\j    JLtL  Jioi  X      uU     Jj    (Lb       (/Od    X  X  o 

THE   PEQUOT   WAR,   CONTINUED.  —  THE   ATTACK   ON   WETHER3- 
PIELD.  —  EXPEPITION  UNDER  MASON. — SURPRISE  AND  STORM- 
ING   OP    THE    PEQUOT   FORT:    TERRIBLE    SLAUGHTER    AND 
CONFLAGRATION.  —  FINAL   DPPEAT   AND   DESTRUCTION 
OP  THE  TRIltB.  —  BARBAROUS   EXULTATION   OF  THB 
EARLY   HISTORIANS.  —  RKPLE'  TIONS. 


In  April,  IfiHT,  the  Pequots  attacked  the  little  town  of  "Wetljcra- 
field,  and  killi'd  nine  of  the  settlers.  The  English  now  saw  tho 
necesHity  for  immcM'.iate  and  energetic  action.  Ninety  men  were 
■pecdily  equipped,  and  put  under  the  command  of  Captain  John 
Mason,  an  active  soldier,  and  a  party  of  seventy  Mohcf^an  Indians, 
headed  by  the  notorious  Uncas,  (then  in  revolt  nuiunst  his  chief  and 


HE   SETTLEMENT    OF    NEW   ENGLAND. 


115 


kinsman,  Sa&sacus,)  were  persuaded  to  join  the  expedition.  Letters, 
entreating  aid,  were  dispatched  to  Massachusetts.  Early  in  May, 
tlie  allied  force  proceeded  down  the  river,  and  at  Saybrook,  set  sail 
for  the  country  of  the  Xarragansetts,  intending  to  take  the  enemy 
by  surprise.  Though  apprized  that  a  force  from  Massachusetts  was 
on  the  way  to  join  him,  Mason,  fearing  lest  the  Pequots  should  learn 
of  his  desiirn,  resolved  to  strike  a  blow  without  delay.  Strengthened 
by  a  considerable  force  of  native  allies,  he  marched  westward  from 
the  Narragan.--ett  country,  with  great  secrecy,  and  on  the  5th  of 
June,  a  little  before  daylight,  came  to  "Pequot  IIill,"(in  the  present 
town  of  Groton,)  on  which  the  strongest  fort  of  the  enemy  was 
situated. 

The  barking  of  a  dog  gave  the  first  alarm  to  the  unsuspecting 
garrison,  who.  though  taken  by  surprise,  and  startled  from  profound 
slumber,  ha.stily  snatched  their  rude  weapons,  and  fought  with  much 
courage.  Ma^on,  wearied  at  the  length  of  the  contest,  at  last  cried, 
"We  must  burn  them!"  and  snatching  up  a  brand,  set  fire  to  the 
matting  in  one  of  the  wig^vams.  The  whole  village  was  composed 
of  the  driest  and  most  combustible  materials,  and  the  flames,  urged 
by  a  strong  wind,  spread  swiftly  through  tlie  fort.  The  warriors 
continued  to  shoot  until  their  bowstrings  were  snapped  by  the  heat, 
and  then  mostly  perished  in  the  flames,  or  were  shot  down,  in  at- 
tempting to  escape  over  the  palisades.  AVomcn,  children,  and  old 
people  met  the  same  terrible  fate.  It  seems  certain  that  at  least  four 
hundied  perished,  and  possibly  man}'  more.  "It  was  supposed," 
say  Jr.  Increa.se  Mather,  "that  no  less  than  500  or  600  Pequot 
souls  were  brought  down  to  hell  that  day."  The  reverend  gentle- 
man, it  would  seem,  took  an  especial  comfort  in  considering  the 
future  torment  of  the  enemy;  for  cisewhere,  he  tells  of  "two  and 
twenty  Indian  captains,  slain  all  of  them  and  brought  down  to  hell 
in  one  day,"  and  of  a  certain  chief,  who  sneered  at  the  religion  of 
the  English,  "and  withal,  added  a  hideous  blasphemy,  immediately 
upon  which  a  bullet  took  him  in  the  head,  and  diished  out  his  brains, 
sending  his  cursed  soul  in  a  moment  amongst  the  devils  and  blas- 
phemers in  hell  forever." — Prevalenry  nf  Prayer^  page  7. 

Perhaps  ivc  cannot  better  arrive  at  a  knowledge  of  tlie  state  of  pub* 
lie  sentiment  in  that  day,  and,  indeed,  for  half  a  century  afterward, 
than  by  jterusing  a  few  more  of  these  precious  extracts  from  the  old 
New  England  historians. 

"It  was  a  fearful  sight,"  says  Mr.  Morton,  (New  Englantl's  Memo- 


116 


AMEllICA   ILLUSTIIATED. 


' 


i 


rial,)  "to  see  tlicm  thus  frying  in  the  fire,  and  the  streams  of  blood 
qnenohing  the  same;  and  horrible  was  the  stink  and  scent  thereof; 
but  the  victory  seemed  a  sweet  sacrifice,  and  they  gave  the  praise 
thereof  to  God,  who  had  wrought  so  wonderfully  for  them,  thus  to 
enclose  their  enemies  in  their  liands,"  &c.  The  Pcquots  from  other 
villages,  on  hearing  the  disastrous  tidings,  hastened  in  numbers  to  the 
scene,  and  their  very  natural  anijuish  is  mocked  by  C(jtton  Mather  in  a 
strain  of  satire  as  dull  as  it  is  wicked.  "When  they  came  to  see  the 
ashes  of  their/r/(,'?H7*',"  he  says,  "mingled  with  the  ashes  of  the  fort, 
and  the  bodies  of  their  countrymen  so  terribly  harUkevyd,  where  the 
Englisli  had  been  doing  a  good  morning's  work,  tijey  howl'd,  they 
roar'd,  they  stamp'd,  they  tore  their  hair;  and  though  they  did  not 
siccar  (for  they  knew  not  how)  yet  they  curs\],  aiid  were  the  pictures 
of  so  manv  devils  in  desparation.''  Is  not  the  feeling  which  prompted 
this  truly  diabolical  sentence  identical  with  that  which  animates  the 
red  warrior  when  bcholdinsTT  his  foe  consuming  at  the  stake  or  run* 
ning  the  gauntlet  through  innumerable  blows? 

Sc]\arated  into  small  bodies,  the  Pcquots  were  ?peedily  cut  off, 
in  detail,  by  the  victors.  Closely  pursued  by  their  allied  enemies,  a 
portion  retreated  westward,  and  finally,  in  a  swamp  at  Fairfield, 
after  a  brave  defence,  were  completeh'  routed.  Mo.-t  of  tlie  warriors 
were  slain,  and  the  women  and  children  were  made  slaves,  a  portion 
being  shipped  to  the  West  Indies.  Sassacus,  and  a  small  body  of 
his  warriors,  took  refuge  among  the  ^fohawks,  but  were  put  to 
death  by  that  inimical  tribe.  Several  hundred  of  the  broken  ruition, 
on  one  occasion,  were  taken  by  the  English  in  the  Narragansett 
country.  "The  men  among  them,"  says  the  Keverend  William 
Uolhuid,  "to  the  number  of  oO,  were  turned  presently  into  Charon's 
ferry  boat,  under  the  command  of  Skipper  Gallop,  who  di.«patehed 
them  a  little  without  the  harbour."  "Twas  found,"  say.s  Keverei.d 
Cotton  ^Mather,  "the  quickest  way  to  feed  i\\c fi-shcs  with  cm."  The 
women  and  children  were  enslaved.  Thus  thinned  \i\'  mas.>;a'.-re  and 
transportation,  the  forlorn  relics  of  the  tribe  thereafter  remained  iu 
entire  sid)jeetion  to  the  victors. 

"In  reading  accounts  like  these,  it  seems  hard  to  deterinrnc  wliieli 
is  the  savage  and  which  the  child  of  civilization — and  the  liasty 
conclusion  would  be,  that,  except  in  the  possession  of  fire-arms  to 
defeat  the  Indians,  and  of  letters  to  record  their  destruction,  the 
authors  and  approvers  of  such  deeds  were  but  little  in  advance  of 
the  unhapiiy  race,  whose  extermination  lefi  room  for  their  own 


THE    SKTTLK.MKNT    UF    NEW    EXOLAND. 


117 


increase  and  prosperity.  But  until  our  own  day  is  free  from  the 
disgrace  of  scenes  parallel  in  cruelty,  enacted  by  those  who  hr  -e  had 
the  advantage  of  two  centuries  of  civilization,  it  ill  becomes  us  to 
question  with  too  great  severity  the  deeds  of  men  struggling  for 
existence,  in  the  wilderness,  not  only  with  a  savage  foe,  but  with  all 
those  hardships  and  uncertainties  which  render  the  heart  of  man 
fierce,  callous,  and  unscrupulous  in  the  means  of  self-preservation. 
The  most  disagreeable  part  of  the  whole  business,  as  we  have  re- 
marked before,  is  the  fiendish  exultation  of  the  learned  historians, 
who,  sitting  in  their  arm-chairs  at  Boston  and  Ipswich,  record  with 
godless  sneers  and  chuckles,  the  defeat  and  sufferings  of  the  savage 
patriots  of  the  soil. 

"These  gentlemen,  possessed  with  a  happy  conviction  of  their 
own  righteousness,  appear  to  have  thought  that  the  Lord,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  course,  was  on  their  side,  and  that  only  the  Adversary  or  his 
agents  could  be  arrayed  against  them.  A  long  course  of  ecclesias- 
tical dictation  had  made  them  as  infallible,  in  their  'conceit,'  as  so 
many  popes;  and  a  constant  handling  of  Jewish  scriptures  had  sup- 
plied them  with  a  vast  number  of  historical  texts,  all  susceptible  of 
excellent  application  in  behalf  of  their  position.  These  were  the 
wars  of  the  Lord;  the  extirpation  of  the  uncircumciscd  occupants  of 
the  Promised  Land;  crusades  against  Edomites,  Philistnies,  and  Og, 
king  of  Bashan;  and  any  severity  toward  the  vancpiished,  or  any 
elation  at  their  defeat,  might  find  an  easy  precedent  in  the  extermin- 
ating policy  of  priests  and  prophets,  and  the  pieans  of  victory  chanted 
over  their  fallen  foes."" 


*  Discoverers,  &.C.,  of  Amerifa. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  MARYLAND. 


\j    iMOi    uuui    iL        LU     OJi    Juti  mi 


?1R  GEORGE  CALVERT;    HIS    SCHEMES    POR    SETTLEMENTS    IK 

AMERICA:    HE  OBTAINS  THE  GRANT  OF  MARYLAND:    FOUNDS 

A    COLONY    THERE. — SETTLEMENT    OF    ST.    MARY'S. — 

RELATIONS  WITH  THE    INDIANS. — EXPULSION  OP 

CLAYBORNE. — DISCONTENT  AND   INSURRECTION. 

— PROTESTANT  SETTLERS. — ACT    POR  THE 

TOLERATION  OF   ALL  CHRISTIAN  SECTS. 


Sir  George  Calvert  a  secretary  of  state  under  James  I.,  having 
conscientiously  become  a  Catholic,  and  finding,  in  the  adoption  of 
this  proscribed  faith,  an  insuperable  bar  to  political  ambition  at 
home,  had,  from  an  early  day,  directed  his  exertions  to  the  enter- 
prise of  peopling  and  governing  new  regions  in  America.  He  had 
made  strenuous  and  protracted,  but  unavailing  endeavours  to  found  a 
permanent  and  prosperous  settlement  on  the  rugged  shores  of  New- 
foundland; and,  finally,  turned  his  attention  to  the  milder  and  more 
fertile  regions  of  Virginia.  His  desire  to  plant  a  colony  there  being 
thwarted  by  the  prejudice  of  the  authorities  against  his  faith,  he 
returned  to  England,  where  his  court-favour,  despite  this  obstacle, 
being  good,  he  obtained  from  the  crown  the  grant  of  an  extensive 
region  northward  of  the  southern  bank  of  the  Potomac,  and  extend- 
ing to  the  fortieth  degree  of  north  latitude. 

Over  this  wide  tract,  almost  unlimited  personal  jurisdiction  was 
conferred  on  him,  with  some  reservation  in  favour  of  self-government 
oy  the  settlers;  and  the  title  of  Lord  Baltimore,  which  he  received 
at  the  same  time,  was  an  additional  proof  of  the  royal  favour.  In 
honour  of  the  queen,  Henrietta  Maria,  ho  bestowed  on  the  region  of 
his  projected  colony  the  name  of  Maryland.  Before  the  final  ratifi- 
cation of  the  charter,  he  died,  but  his  rights  were  confirmed  to  his 
80U  Cecil,  the  second  Lord  Baltimore,  who  devoted  himself  with 


THE  6ETTL£ilENT   UF  AIAKYLAND. 


119 


much  energy  io  the  completion  of  liis  father's  plan.  In  November, 
1633,  he  dispatched  his  brother,  Leonard  Calvert,  with  about  two 
hundred  emigrants,  mostly  Catholics,  in  two  vessels,  the  Ark  and 
Dove,  to  found  the  projected  settlement.  This  company  first  touched 
at  Point  Comfort,  in  Virginia,  where,  though  with  no  sinceie  cor- 
diality, they  were  courteously  received  by  the  authorities;  and  in 
March  of  the  following  year,  proceeded  to  the  Potomac. 

Intercourse,  generally  friendly,  was  established  with  the  natives 
inhabiting  its  shores;  and,  on  the  St.  Mary's,  at  an  Indian  town,  called 
Yoacomoco,  (afterwards  St.  Mary's,)  it  was  resolved  to  plant  a  settle- 
ment. The  chief  received  the  emigrants  with  extraordinary  kindness 
and  hospitality,  and  for  hatchets,  hoes,  and  other  European  articles, 
they  obtained  not  only  a  large  tract  of  land,  but  half  of  the  village 
itself,  v/ith  the  corn  growing  adjacent,  and  were  thus  at  once  pro- 
vided with  comfortable  shelter.  This  peaceful  and  friendly  intercourse 
with  the  native  inhabitants  continued  for  nearly  ten  years,  when  it 
was  interrupted  by  hostilities.  These,  after  a  continuance  of  two 
years,  were  ended  by  treaty,  and  a  long  interval  of  peace  succeeded. 

Only  a  few  years  after  the  establishment  of  the  new  colony,  its 
tranquillity  was  disturbed  by  a  species  of  civil  warfare.  Captain 
William  Clayborne,  who  had  planted  a  trading  establishment  on 
Kent  Island,  opposite  to  the  settlements  of  Lord  Baltimore,  and  who 
had  expended  large  sums  on  the  enterprise,  was  summoned  by  the 
proprietary  to  yield  it  up,  as  lying  within  the  limits  of  his  patent. 
Despite  forcible  remonstrance,  both  from  Virginia  and  the  English 
government,  Baltimore  resolved  to  enforce  this  obnoxious  claim  by 
an  appeal  to  arms.  After  a  number  of  hostile  encounters,  the  plant- 
ation on  the  isle  of  Kent  was  carried  by  a  night  assault.,  and  its 
tenants  were  made  prisoners  or  put  to  flight.  On  the  complaint  of 
Clayborne,  the  king  (July,  1638)  strongly  reprehended  these  violent 
proceedings,  but,  on  account  of  the  liberal  political  opinions  of  the 
injured  party,  the  Commisoioners  of  Plantations  decided  that,  "ccui- 
cerning  the  violences  and  wrongs  by  the  said  Clayborne  and  the 
rest  complained  of,  they  found  no  cause  at  all  to  relieve  them,"  &c. 

Founded,  as  the  new  colony  was,  by  a  sect  persecuted  in  England, 
it  did  not  imitate  the  example  of  other  settlements  originating  in  a 
gimilar  cause,  but  allowed  free  liberty  of  conscience  and  of  worship 
to  all,  at  least  of  the  Christian  faith.  The  overbearing  claims  of  the 
proprietor  to  almost  complete  personal  jurisdiction,  however,  occa- 
sioned much  discontent  and  uneasiness,  and,  in  1615,  excited  an 


120 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


actual  insurrection,  by  -whicli  Calvert,  the  governor,  was  compelled 
to  retreat  into  Virginia.  The  government  of  the  proprietor,  a  year 
or  two  afterwards,  was  reinstated — an  amnesty  being  granted  for  all 
political  offences.  In  1G40,  the  year  of  the  king's  execution,  the 
people,  taking  advantage  of  the  success  of  the  revolutionary  party  in 
England,  wrung  from  Lord  Baltimore  an  act  hy  which  some  portion 
of  legislative  power  was  secured  to  their  deputies. 

To  increase  the  population  of  his  province,  that  nobleman  now 
began  to  invite  Protestant  settlers,  both  from  New  England  and 
Virginia.  The  former,  strongly  prejudiced,  declined  the  invitation, 
but  from  the  latter,  on  account  of  the  arbitrary  spirit  of  the  author- 
ities, great  numbers  migrated  to  Maryland.  In  1649,  the  Catholic 
assembly,  to  their  honour,  passed  a  statute,  explicitly  declaring 
(what  had  always  been  matter  of  custom  in  the  province)  perfect 
freedom  in  matters  of  Christian  faith.  "Whereas  the  enforcing  of 
the  conscience  in  matters  of  religion,"  proclaims  this  liberal  enact- 
ment, "hath  frequently  fallen  out  to  be  of  dangerous  consequence  in 
those  commonwealths  where  it  has  been  practised,  and  for  the  more 
quiet  and  peaceable  government  of  this  province,  and  the  better  to 
preserve  mutual  love  and  amity  among  the  inhabitants,  no  person 
within  this  province,  professing  to  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  shall  be 
any  ways  troubled,  molested,  or  discountenanced  for  his  or  her  reli- 
gion, in  the  free  exercise  thereof."  The  object  sought  in  the  explicit 
enactment  of  this  statute  was,  doubtless,  as  well  to  attract  and  con 
ciliate  Protestant  emigration,  as  for  self-protection  in  event  of  the 
Catholics  themselves  falling  into  the  minority. 


TUE   SETTLEMENT   OF    MARYLAND. 


121 


UiLXabliTititjiti         iI<L« 


AUBITR'      -    SYSTEM    OP    LORD    BALTIMORE. — DISAPFECTION 

OF   THE   PROTESTANT   SETTLERS. INTERFERENCE   OF    THE 

TIRGINIA   COMMISSIONERS. —  AFFAIRS    IN    ENGLAND. — 
TRIUMPH   OP   THE   PROTESTANTS.  —  REPEAL   OF   TOLERA- 
TION.  CIVIL    WAR. VICTORY    OF   THE   PROTESTANT?. 

— PENDALL'S  INSURRECTION:   HIS  SUCCESS   AND 
FINAL    RUIN. — TOLERATION   RESTORED. 


The  Virginian  settleps,  imbued  with  a  spirit  of  political  liberty, 
were  surprised  and  grieved,  ere  long,  at  being  required  to  take  an 
oath  of  allegiance  to  Lord  Baltimore,  couched  in  terms  of  such  arro- 
gance, as  appeared  to  them  "far  too  high  for  him,  and  strangely 
unsuitable  to  the  present  liberty  which  God  hath  given  to  English 
subjects."  The  proprietor  sternly  rejected  any  modification  of  the 
obnoxious  form,  and  ordered  Stone,  his  governor,  to  enforce  forfeit- 
ure and  banishment  against  all  who  should  fail  within  three  months 
to  comply  with  his  requisition.  But  that  functionary  thought  it 
imprudent  to  carry  out  such  an  arbitrary  ordinance,  and,  accord- 
ingly, deferred  its  execution. 

A  commission  had  been  appointed  to  reduce  Virginia  under  the 
parliamentary  rule,  and  it  so  happened  that  Bennet  and  Clay  borne, 
bi^th  at  enmity  with  the  proprietary,  had  the  principal  control  of  its 
tran.sactions.  The  former  being  made  governor,  and  the  latter  sec- 
retary of  Virginia,  they  speedily  found  occasioii  to  interfere  in  the 
afTiiirs  of  Maryland.  After  considerable  debate  with  Stone,  they  so 
far  modified  their  demands  as  only  to  claim  the  nomination  of  most 
of  the  colonial  officers.  Baltimore,  exceedingly  indignant,  sought 
redress  from  the  revolutionary  party,  which  he  had  endeavoured  by 
all  means  to  conciliate;  and  it  is  supposed  that  he  obtained  some 
secret  promise  of  countenance  from  the  Protector;  for,  in  lOo-i,  he 
sent  word  to  his  governor  to  resist  the  proceedings  of  the  commis- 
sion at  all  hazard.s,  to  displace  their  officers,  and  to  expel  from  the 
province  all  who  would  not  take  the  disputed  oath  of  allegiance. 
Stone,  accordingly,  feeling  confident,  it  would  seem,  in  the  support 
of  some  high  authority,  proceeded,  witli  much  impetuosity,  to  put 
these  obnoxious  instructions  into  force. 


122 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


Three  months  of  negotiation  ensued,  when  the  commission,  re- 
solving to  carry  matters  with  a  high  hand,  set  forth  for  Maryland, 
and  issued  a  proclamation  deposing  him,  and  declaring  Cromwell  the 
head  of  the  government.  With  a  strong  force  of  Protestants,  they 
advanced  against  the  governor,  who,  on  his  part,  could  gather  but  a 
comparatively  small  and  timid  levy  of  the  opposite  sect  and  faction. 
In  despair  of  success,  he  resigned  his  authority  into  the  hands  of  the 
two  commissioners,  who,  thereupon,  appointed  ten  others,  to  adminis- 
ter affairs  in  the  several  departments.  By  an  edict,  the  same  sum- 
mer, they  deprived  the  Catholics  of  their  elective  franchise;  and  the 
next  assembly,  strongly  Protestant,  repealed  the  act  for  universal 
toleration,  so  far  as  the  obnoxious  religion  was  concerned. 

Though  this  bigoted  act  was  not  carried  to  the  extreme  of  actual 
persecution,  it  naturally  produced  great  resentment  in  the  minds  of 
the  aggrieved  sect.  To  be  thus  excluded,  at  least  by  the  law,  from 
the  province  they  had  founded,  and  to  see  their  religion,  a  refuge  for 
which  had  induced  them  to  undertake  their  exile,  proscribed  by 
aliens,  was  more  than  human  patience  could  endure.  The  Catliolics 
and  others  attached  to  the  house  of  Baltimore,  rallied  around  the 
governor,  and  soon  presented  a  formidable  attitude.  They  seized 
on  the  public  records  at  Patuxent,  reduced  a  considerable  tract  of 
country  to  submission,  and  advanced  upon  the  chief  station  of  tlie 
Protestant  party,  at  Providence,  in  Anne  Arundel.  Overawed  at 
these  formidable  demonstrations,  the  latter  made  overtures  of  peace, 
and  even  of  submission,  but  receiving  no  answer,  resolved  to  light 
the  quarrel  out.  In  March,  1655,  the  Catholic  force,  two  hundred 
and  fifty  strong,  sailed  up  the  Severn  and  disembarked.  Their  ene- 
mies, less  than  half  that  number,  made  a  desperate  stand  against 
them,  and  battle  was  joined  with  cries  of  "  Hey  for  St.  Mary  I"  and 
"God  is  our  strength!"  After  a  sharp  but  brief  contest,  victory  fell 
to  the  weaker  but  more  valiant  party  of  Puritans;  Stone,  with  his 
chief  ofTicers,  being  made  captive,  and  all  the  rest  of  his  force  excej)t 
five  being  killed  or  made  prisoners.  Baggage,  artillery,  and  a  store  of 
beads  and  relics,  and  similar  "  trash  wherein  they  trusted,"  also  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  victors.  The  life  of  the  defeated  leader  was  hardly 
saved  from  the  vengeance  of  his  enemies,  and  four  of  the  chief  per- 
sons of  his  party  were  tried  by  a  council  of  war,  and  were  executed. 

Not  long  after  these  events,  Josias  Fendall,  an  active  })artisan  of 
the  Baltimore  faction,  rallying  the  Catholics,  raised  a  counter-insur 
rection,  which  was  suppressed,  not  without  difiiculty.     The  projirio- 


THE   SETTLEMENT   OF   MAKYLAND. 


123 


tary,  pleased  with  bis  exertions,  now  appointed  him  governor,  and 
he  gained  possession  of  the  district  of  St.  Mary's.  By  March,  1658, 
by  his  policy  and  address,  he  contrived  to  have  the  authority  of 
Baltimore  and  of  himself  acknowledged  throughout  the  province. 
Religious  freedom,  and  the  relinquishment  of  the  obnoxious  claims 
of  the  proprietary,  were  among  the  conditions  on  which  this  agree- 
ment was  founded. 

When,  in  March,  1660,  tidings  of  the  Restoration  of  Charles  II., 
came  to  Maryland,  the  assembly,  supposing  that  Baltimore,  on  ac- 
count of  his  intrigues  with  the  revolutionary  party,  would  be  a 
mark  for  the  royal  displeasure,  hastily  and  prematurely  disowned 
his  authority,  substituting  their  own,  in  the  king's  name.  But  the 
proprietor,  easily  making  his  peace  at  court,  was  fully  reinstated  in 
his  privileges,  and  speedily  sent  out  his  brother,  Philip  Calvert,  as 
governor.  Fendall,  who  had  been  implicated  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  assembly,  was  tried  and  convicted  of  high  treason,  but  was  suf- 
fered to  escape  with  comparatively  slight  punishment.  For  a  sub- 
sequent insurrectionary  movement,  he  was  fined,  imprisoned,  and 
banished  from  the  colony.     ' 

The  population  of  the  province,  at  this  time,  (1660,)  has  been 
variously  estimated  at  from  eight  to  twelve  thousand.  The  Quakers, 
who  had  experienced  such  persecution  in  other  colonies  (see  New 
England,  &c.)  resorted  there  in  considerable  numbers,  and  were 
tolerated  m  the  exercise  of  their  worship. 


VIBGIWIA, 

CONTINUED. 


ui^ii^iiJiiiti    x. 


dEJON  OF   CHARLES  I.:   HIS  TIEWS  OF   VIRGINIA. — YEARDLEI. 
uOVERNOR:    WEST;    HARVEY;    HIS   DEPOSITION   BY    THE    PEOPLE; 
HE   IS   SUPPORTED   DY    THE    CROWN. WYATT. — SIR    WIL- 
LIAM   DEUKELEY,    GOVERNOR.  —  LOYALTY   OF   THE   COL- 
^           0\Y.  —  PERSECUTION  OF  DISSENTERS.  —  SECOND  INDIAN 
CONSPIRACY  AND    MASSACRE.  —  OPECHANC ANOUGH 
A     PRISONER:    HIS   SPEECH:     MURDERED    LY    A 
SOLDIER.  —  REDUCTION    OF    THE    INDIANS. — 
TRIUMPH  OF   THE  PURITANS  IN   ENGLAND. 
—  RaYALIST   EMIGRATION  TO  VIRGINIA. 
LOYALTY    OF    THE    PROVINCE. 


The  main  object  of  Cliarlcs  I.,  from  the  time  of  liis  accession  to 
the  throne,  in  governing  Virginia,  seems  to  have  been  to  derive  as 
great  a  pecuniary  profit  from  it  as  possible.  Sufficiently  arbitrary 
in  his  domestic  policy,  he  probably  regarded  any  republican  spirit 
in  this  weak  and  distant  colony  as  too  inconsiderable  to  deserve  his 
attention;  while,  continually  seeking  the  means  of  sujiporting  a 
government  without  the  necessity  of  resorting  to  parliament  for 
supplies,  his  only  anxiety  was  to  derive  as  large  a  revenue  as  pos- 
sible from  the  importation  of  tobacco.  When  Wyatt,  in  1G26, 
returned  to  England,  Sir  George  Yeardley,  the  author,  as  it  were, 
of  Virginia's  political  freedom,  was  appointed  governor.  Under  his 
just  and  equal  administration,  tjic  province  prospered  and  increased 
greatly  in  numbers;  as  many  as  a  th.ousand  emigrants  arriving  in  a 
single  year.  He  died  in  1627,  leaving  a  high  character,  and  a 
memory  revered  by  the  peoj)lc.  Francis  "West  was  elected  his 
successor,  as  governor,  by  the  council,  which,  in  such  case,  was 
authorized  to  fall  the  vacancy.    John  Harvey,  who,  soon  after,  was 


V  1 1:  G  1  N  1  A . 


125 


appointed  by  the  king  to  that  oflice,  and  who  arrived  in  Virginia  in 
1629,  «ppears,  by  his  system  of  favouritism,  to  have  exeited  much 
discontent  in  the  province,  which,  nevertheless,  by  its  popular  form 
of  government,  enjoyed  a  good  share  of  prosperity  and  freedom.  A 
remarkable  order  and  steadiness  seems  to  have  characterized  its 
early  legislation. 

The  cession  to  Lord  Baltimore  of  a  large  tract,  which  the  Virgin- 
ians had  always  been  accustomed  to  consider  as  lying  within  their 
own  jurisdiction,  created  no  little  alarm  and  uneasiness.  Harvey, 
however,  Avho  was  a  strong  partisan  of  the  crown,  when  Clayborne, 
defeated  and  outlawed  in  Maryland,  took  refuge  in  Virginia,  so  far 
from  taking  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  exert  an  influence  over 
the  sister  province,  sent  the  fugitive  a  prisoner  to  England.  The 
people,  and  the  majority  of  the  council,  indignant  at  this  act,  sum- 
marily deposed  the  governor,  appointing  Captain  John  "West  in  his 
place,  till  the  kiag's  pleasure  could  be  known.  Supported  by  the  ■ 
royal  favour,  however,  he  rcassumed  his  oflice,  which  he  continued 
to  hold  until  1639,  when  he  was  replaced  by  Sir  Francis  Wyatt. 
Two  years  afterwards,  (February,  1642,)  Sir  William  Berkelc}',  in 
turn  appointed  to  that  oflice,  arrived  in  Virginia,  where,  by  his  cor- 
dial agreement  with  the  legislature,  many  improvements  were  made 
in  the  civil  code,  and  important  acts  were  passed  for  the  benefit  of 
the  colony. 

To  a  province  like  Virginia,  alike  prosperous  and  loyal,  the 
triumph  of  the  popular  and  Puritan  party  in  England  brought  no 
satisfaction.  On  the  contrary,  to  mark  its  attachment  to  the  estab- 
lished churoh,  the  colonial  government  even  went  to  the  length  of 
instituting  a  religious  persecution  (the  first  in  Virginia)  in  its  behalf 
— an  especial  order  being  issued  in  1643,  by  the  council,  for  the 
banishment  of  non-conformists,  and  the  silencing  of  all  except  Epis- 
copal preaching. 

Hostility  with  the  Indians,  long  confined  to  sudden  forays  and 
petty  skirmishes,  in  the  next  year  ripened  to  a  general  v;ar.  Re- 
membering the  sanguinary  success  of  their  former  attempt,  the 
savages,  with  profound  secrecy,  again  concerted  a  simultaneous 
attack  on  the  intruders.  On  the  18th  of  April,  1644,  the  frontier 
settlement?  were  assaulted,  and  some  three  hundred  of  the  colonists 
fell  victims;  but  the  assailants,  losing  heart,  their  design  only  com- 
menced, returned  to  the  forests,  where  their  enemies  were  not  long 
in  pursuing  them.     In  this  war,  Opechancanough,  so  long  the  terror 


126 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


I 


of  the  whites,  was  made  prisoner.  He  was  now  in  extreme  old  age, 
being  unable  to  raise,  his  eyelids,  which,  when  he  desired  to  see, 
were  opened  by  his  attendants.  Being  brought  before  the  governor, 
a  spectacle  for  the  eager  curiosity  of  the  crowd,  he  said,  haughtily, 
"  Had  Sir  "William  Berkeley  fallen  into  my  hands,  I  would  not  have 
exposed  him  thus  to  the  gaze  of  my  people."  A  ruffianly  soldier, 
to  avenge,  it  is  said,  some  former  grievance,  extinguished,  by  a  cow- 
ardly murder,  the  feeble  spark  of  life  yet  lingering  in  his  frame. 
These  successes  were  followed  up  with  much  vigour,  repeated  incur- 
sions being  made  against  the  Indians;  and,  in  1646,  peace  waa 
concluded  with  Necotowance,  their  chief,  (the  successor  of  Opechan- 
canough,)  on  tenns  of  submission  and  cession  of  territory. 

This  difficulty,  (the  last  with  the  natives  in  their  immediate  vicin- 
ity,) thus  overcome,  the  Virginian  settlements  continued  to  increase 
and  prosper.  In  the  winter  of  1648,  more  than  thirty  vessels,  at 
one  time,  were  trading  in  their  ports.  The  number  of  colonists  had 
risen  to  twenty  thousand;  and  the  triumph  of  the  Puritans  in 
England,  compelling  the  opposite  party  to  exile,  brought  about  an 
emigration  of  numerous  loyalists  and  cavaliers,  some  of  them  men 
of  distinction.  The  loyalty  of  the  province,  confirmed  by  this  means, 
stood  firm  for  the  House  of  Stuart  Immediately  after  the  execu- 
tion of  Charles,  the  government  of  Virginia  had  recognized  his  son, 
and  the  latter,  from  his  retreat  in  Berda,  had  sent  to  Berkeley  a  new 
commission;  and  that  officer,  in  1651,  wrote  to  the  king,  with  ardent 
expressions  of  attachment  and  fidelity,  and  even  hinting  the  advisa- 
bility of  his  taking  refuge  in  his  American  colonies.  It  was  deemed 
possible,  by  the  over-sanguine  cavaliers,  that  this  little  province, 
the  last  to  submit  to  the  commonwealth,  might  make  a  successful 
stand  for  royalty'  against  the  entire  power  of  England. 


^ 


"w^iJW'^SJ., 


I  I        : 


1^8 


I  n  »   i  i-:  I' 


^^. 


.  •  *  "^     "He  v/.'.i»  '-.''W  in  cxtu  ;  •  ol'l  fv;^ 
•    .  M'^tlut  ^^wjh^  irb'^n  he  d^^'.rcd  to  st-e, 
'".',»'.»  iH,/JFIeiut?  brc'ightbefor'i  ih.;  governor, 
t>i    '.    "'^SIK'  of  tlie  -.Towd,  he  saifl,  hnn^.-'^itily, 
1.  -u.pI.  V  !ai''o3 ^to-^iV  liwds,  I  would  r.ut  Ivu'c 
..Jji  ^u.;  u^mypcov.  •-.  ruffian! V -o'-t  er, 

^fiif-  fonr.' T  gri'^rtir,  .  .  r-?;*aii|pv;isbe<i,  hy  a  •'ow- 
^      .     >  !  .     ._,  -u  .^  life  yyi  ^^ei^  ,  ,.,   vn  bis  frame. 
.:.„.^  •    .r:,>p^Tith  rr-rb''-iilp8l!'   '^••ricflted  inciir- 

,     ,     .  !.3t  the  Indi.-u ;  in        1«.  foaco  Nv:ia 

:.l  «i*Jj  NVwtowHnee,  their  cbidf.  (th-  -ncce     r  ol'Ope"h.ln- 
''  ^  ^.  |  m^.e  r  "snl)mts«ioii  ru,  ,  of  tern  lory. 
I        <^''''*''^.  Ctfc'  last  with  the  vn^lyf^'-  m  i..>  r  imracdiftte  vi«;i!i- 
u  \  ;  .'i.^.'^WvXWiA;  the  Virginian  i*"'     naont*  c  ■  ♦inv^'l  tr,  Increi*.*; 
)  ..,  .o.wT.^  In  4.1  «  w5nu-r  of  1 B4^    ""^T  tht,  '  'iiirty  vegsob,  nt 

•  r-     <'r  of  CO  oniatd  !l;u4 
the  Puritans  in 


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VIRGINIA. 


127 


ACT  FOR  THE    REDUCTION    OF   VIRGINIA. — THE    NAVIOATIOS 

ACT.  —  MODERATIOX   OF   THE   PARLIAMENT. SUBMISSION   OF 

THE   PROVINCE.  —  BENNETT,   GOVERNOR:    DIGGS:    MATHEWS. 
—  JEALOUSY   OF   THE   ASSEMBLY   AGAINST   FOREIGN    IN- 
TERFERENCE.—  FREEDOM   AND   PROSPERITY   OF   VIR- 
GINIA  UNDER  THE   COMMONWEALTH.  —  DEATH   OF 
CROMWELL.  —  BERKELEY,      GOVERNOR  RE- 
STORATION    OF     CHARLES     II.  —  ITS     ILL 
EFFECT     ON    THE    PROVINCE.* 
I 

Tjie  Parliament,  f  nnmphant  over  its  enemies  at  home,  ot  last  turned 
its  attention  to  the  refractory  province  of  Virginia.  The  council  of 
state  was  empowered  to  reduce  it  to  obedience;  and  the  "Navigation 
Act,"  passed  in  1051,  deprived  it,  nominally,  at  least,  in  common 
with  the  other  English  colonies,  of  foreign  trade,  except  that  carriod 
on  by  English  vessels.  Considering  the  bold  front  of  opposition 
which  Virginia  had  exhibited  to  the  popular  government  of  England, 
the  measures  adopted  were  characterized  by  singular  moderation 
and  leniency.  Two  of  the  three  commissioners,  appointed  for  the 
reduction  of  the  province,  were  Virginians;  and  they  had  charge  to 
u.se  all  mild  and  persuasive  means  before  resorting  to  force.  The 
liberties  of  the  colony  were  amply  secured,  in  case  of  peace,  and  the 
Virginians,  not  feeling  called  on  to  contend  for  the  claims  of  a 
dethroned  monarch  to  the  extreme  of  actual  resistance,  on  learninf 
the  moderate  nature  of  the  parliamentary  commission,  laid  aside  all 
thought  of  resistance.  Full  power  of  self-government,  and  equal 
privileges  with  Engli.shmen  at  home,  were  provided  for  the  colony; 
but  the  influence  of  the  dominant  party,  and  the  subniis.'^ion  or 
a.'went  of  the  colonists,  were  suHiciently  evinced  in  the  election  of 
Itichard  Bennett,  a  strong  revolutionist,  by  the  burgesses,  to  the 
ofiice  of  governor.  On  his  retirement,  in  IG'to,  Edward  Diggs 
received  the  same  office  at  the  hands  of  the  a.«semb]y— Cromwell, 
during  his  tenure  of  power,  never  interfering  with  the  right  e.\er- 
cbed  by  the  Virginian^^  of  choosing  their  own  onicers. 

In  1658,  an  old  j)lanter,  named  Samuel  Mathews,  described  as  one 
who  "kept  a  pood  liou.se,  lived  bravely,  and  was  a  true  lover  of 
Vol.  IV.— a7 


VIS 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


Virginia,"  was  cliosen  to  the  same  post.  .  Becoming,  ere  long,  in- 
volved in  a  dispute  with  the  assembly,  he  announced  his  intention 
of  referring  the  matters  in  issue  to  the  decision  of  the  Protector. 
Alarmed  at  the  prospect  of  dependence  on  a  foreign  authority,  that 
body  proceeded  to  make  a  bold  and  startling  declaration  of  the  pop- 
ular sovereignty,  and  actually  deposed  Mathews,  whom  they  had 
lately  elected.  Having  thus  vindicated  their  dignity,  they  forthwith 
reinstated  him  in  office,  while  he  submitted  to  their  requirements 
with  a  readiness  which  sufficiently  shows  that,  whatever  the  tem- 
porary disagreement,  no  serious  ill-feeling  had  existed  between 
the  executive  and  legislative  powers.  The  spirit  of  public  liberty, 
by  this  bold  demonstration,  gained  a  great  accession  of  strength 
and  firmness. 

On  the  death  of  the  Protector,  the  assembly  of  burgesses,  after 
private  deliberation,  resolved  to  acknowledge  his  son,  Richard 
Cromwell,  as  the  head  of  the  English  government;  and  when,  by 
his  resignation  and  the  death  of  their  governor,  (1660,)  the  destinies 
of  Virginia  seemed  fallen  entirely  in  their  hands,  they  resolved  that 
the  supreme  power  should  be  lodged  in  their  own  bodv^  and  that 
all  writs  should  issue  in  its  name,  "until  there  shall  arrive  from 
England  a  commission,  which  the  assembly  itself  shall  judge  to  be 
lawful."  The  prospect  of  the  Restoration  was  hailed  with  joy  by 
Virginia,  and  the  election  of  Sir  "William  Berkeley  to  the  office  of 
governor,  was  an  earnest  of  its  renewed  loyalty.  That  faithful 
adherent  to  the  House  of  Stuart,  in  accepting  the  office,  however, 
exi)ressly  acknowledged  the  authority  of  the  assembly,  of  which,  lie 
said,  he  was  but  a  servant,  and  waited  eagerly  for  news  of  the 
reerection  of  the  monarchy. 

During  the  civil  wars,  the  parliamentary  government,  and  the 
Protectorate,  Virginia  had  been  steadily  gaining,  by  precedent,  for- 
titications  to  her  system  of  self-government.  Commerce  was  free, 
(for  the  Navigation  Act  soon  became  a  dead  letter,)  and  religioiis 
toleration  (except  to  the  Quakers,  a  sect  at  that  time  almost  univer- 
sally proscribed)  was  fully  established.  L^niversal  sullrage  of  free- 
men ])rcvailcd,  and  in  consequence  of  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  and 
the  high  price  commanded  by  the  staple  production,  tobacco,  re- 
markable prosperity  prevailed.  These  advantages,  unalloyed  by 
any  act  of  oi)pres.sion  by  the  home  government,  had  rendered  the 
province  one  of  the  most  desirable  i)laoes  of  residence  in  Americji. 

The  elevation  of  Charles  II.  to  the  throne  of  his  fathers,  marked  by 


VIBOINIA. 


129 


the  northern  colonies  with  such  gloomy  forebodings,  was  received 
with  exultation  by  Virginia.  Berkeley  at  once  reassumed  his  official 
functions,  under  the  royal  authority,  and,  in  the  king's  name,  sum- 
moned an  assembly,  which,  from  its  loyalist  composition,  clearly 
indicated  the  prevalent  s\-mpathy  of  the  colony.  AVitli  strange 
indillerence  to  the  blessings  the  country  had  enjoyed  under  self- 
government,  the  dominant  party  at  once  proceeded  to  ptxss  acts  of 
an  arbitrary  and  intolerant  nature.  Suftrage  was  restricted  to  free- 
holders and  householders,  the  Engli.sli  Church  Avas  exclusively  rees- 
tablished, and  the  persecution  of  dissenters,  which  had  before 
compelled  tliem  to  seek  refuge  in  other  colonies,  was  renewed.  The 
■^ssc"  "  ',  like  the  Long  Parliament,  made  its  sitting,  in  a  manner, 
•-rpci,  '  the  members  retail  •'  /  aeir  seats  for  more  than  ten  years, 
and,  finally,  dissolving  only  when  compelled  by  necessity  The 
restoration  of  arbitrary  power  was  systematically  pursued. 

The  reerection  of  the  monarchy,  to  whicli  Virginia  had  looked 
with  such  sanguine  hope,  was  presently  the  means  of  inflicting  great 
evil  on  the  colony.  The  provisions  of  the  Navigation  Act,  restrict- 
ing all  commerce  to  the  parent-countr}',  had  been  evaded  or  disre- 
garded at  an  early  day  by  the  American  provinces,  and  lutd  latterly 
fallen  into  complete  dis'ose.  This  obnoxious  statute  was  now  ri-en- 
acted  with  incrca.sed  strictness,  and  enforced  with  practici.l  rigour — 
the  influence  of  the  London  merchants,  who  derived  great  profits 
from  the  monopoly,  proving  sufBcient  to  outweigh  all  the  complaints 
and  remonstrances  of  the  coloni.sts.  In  vain  did  Berkeley,  deputetl 
bv  the  Virginians,  repair  to  court,  and  urge  on  the  car  of  the  king, 
with  all  the  influence  whi'.-h  his  ancient  loyalty  could  command,  the 
disastrous  clTeets  produced  on  the  province  by  this  arbitrary  restriction 
of  its  growing  intercourse  with  European  nations,  and  complain  that 
the  di.sloyal  colonies  of  New  England  were  sviifered  to  set  the  act  in 
question  at  nought,  while  the  faithful  jirovince  of  Virginia  was 
f  <rccd  to  a  strict  compliance.  His  remonstrances  availed  nothing, 
and  thus  the  first  fruit  which  Virginia  reajied  from  the  ivestoration, 
long  eheri.shed  with  such  ardent  expectation,  was  the  infliction  of  a 
monopoly  calculated  greatly  to  retard  her  progress  and  impair  her 
prosperity. 


NE¥  ENGLAND, 


CONTINUED. 


Li  iLiL   Xit  X     X    lU   oiii      X  o 

INIMICAL    MEASURES    ADOPTED    IN    ENGLAND.  —  SriRIT    OF 

JIASSACIIUSETTS:    THREAT    OP    REVOLT. THE    ENGLISH 

REVOLUTION. — INDUSTRY  AND   PROSPERITY   OF   NEW 

ENGLAND:    ITS    INDEPENDENCE.  —  NEW   nAlIPSHIRE 

ANNEXED   TO    MASSACHUSETTS.  —  FORMATION 

OF    THE    NEW    ENGLAND    CONFEDERACY. 

t 

The  first  blow  aimed  hj  the  English  crown  at  the  growing  spirit 
of  mingled  freedom  and  intolerance  in  New  England,  was  the 
appointment  of  a  commission,  consisting  of  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury and  others,  with  full  power  to  establish  a  government  there, 
both  ecclesiastical  and  civil,  and  to  revoke  any  charter,  the  provisions 
of  which  might  seem  to  infringe  on  the  royal  prero;:ative.  (April, 
1G3-1.)  1'lie  news  of  this  invidious  ordinance  awakened  universal 
alarm  and  indignation,  A  general  spirit  of  resistance  was  evinced, 
and  hasty  provision  was  made  for  the  fortification  and  defence  of 
Ma.'jsachusetts,  All  tbe  clergy  of  the  province,  assembled  at  Boston, 
un;uiiniou.«ly  agreed  to  resist  the  imposition  of  a  foreign  >;overnor. 
"We  ought,"  they  declared,  "to  defend  our  lawful  pcssest  ns,  if  we 
are  able;  if  not,  to  avoid  and  protract."  A  fresh  intrigue,  directed 
against  the  peace  of  the  new  commonwealth,  was  that  of  the  Ply- 
moutli  Com}>any,  which  surrendered  its  charter  into  the  king's 
hand.i,  its  members  hoping  to  obtain  extensive  private  grants,  and 
using  all  their  influence  to  get  that  of  the  Ma.=saelui.setts  Company 
revoked.  Legal  proceedings  were  commenced  against  the  latter, 
but  the  death  of  ^fa-son,  the  patentee  of  New  Ilampshire,  and  the 
prime  mover  of  these  inimical  proceedings,  prevented  them  from 
being  carried  to  the  extreme. 


NEW   ENGLAND. 


131 


The  council,  in  1G38,  demanded  of  Winthrop,  that  tlic  patent 
should  be  given  up;  but  the  authorities,  in  reiily,  urged  strong 
deinonstranccs  against  the  projected  arbitrary  enforcement.  It  was 
backed,  indeed,  by  a  judgment  from  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  but 
such  judgment  had  been  obtained  by  the  intrigues  of  their  enemies, 
and  doubtless  owed  its  origin  to  royal  dictation  or  influence.  They 
concluded  their  reply  with  an  implied  threat  of  independence  in 
case  matters  v.'cre  forced  to  an  extremity.  "If  the  patent  bo  taken 
from  U.S,"  tliey  declare,  '''  tlie  common  people  will  conceive  that  his 
majesty  hath  cast  them  off,  and  that  hereby  they  are  freed  I'rom  their 
subjection  and  allegiance,  and  therefore  will  be  ready  to  confederate 
themselves  under  a  new  government,  for  their  necessary  safety  and 
gub.sistence,  which  will  be  of  dangerous  example  unto  other  planta- 
tions, and  perilous  to  ourselves,  of  incurring  his  majesty's  dis- 
pleasure." This  covert  menace  of  revolution,  it  may  be  inuigined, 
wa.s  encouraged  by  the  growing  power  and  influence  of  the  Puritan 
party  in  P^ngland,  where,  indeed,  the  authority  of  the  sovereign  was 
already  beginning  to  find  sufficient  employment  in  suppressing  the 
popular  movement,  without  crossing  the  ocean  to  seek  a  spari^ely- 
peoj^led  wilderness.  In  fact,  num.ber«,  who.  in  the  dnv  of  nersecti- 
lion,  had  sought  refuge  in  America,  now  hastened  back  to  England  to 
take  their  share  in  the  extraordinary  events  which  were  there  begin- 
ning to  transpire.  "  By  the  year  1640,  the  tide  of  emigration,  which, 
for  many  3-ears,  had  flowed  steadily  to  New  England,  gradually  ceased. 
The  a.=cendcnc3'  of  the  Puritan  party  in  England  soon  removed  the 
grievous  wrongs  and  disabilities  under  which  that  numerous  body 
had  once  labfured,  and  the  temptation  to  share  the  success  of  the 
triumphant  fiiction  at  home  was  greater  than  that  to  retreat  into  the 
wilderness  which  had  been  its  refuge  when  weak  and  persecuted  by 
its  destined  victims." 

More  than  twenty  thousand  emigrants,  however,  before  the  year 
1G40,  had  arrived  in  New  England,  and  by  their  extraordinary 
industry  and  enterprise,  prosperity  and  comfort  had  been  developed 
to  a  degree  which,  considering  the  asperity  of  the  climate  and 
country,  .seemed  hardly  po.ssible.  Little  more  than  ten  years  had 
elapsed  since  the  foundation  of  the  Massachusetts  colony,  yet  in 
that  interval,  savs  Mr.  Bancroft,  fiftv  towns  and  vilhiecs  had  been 
planted,  and  nearly  as  many  churches  had  been  built;  and  for- 
eign commerce,  in  furs,  timber,  grain,  and  fish,  had  alrca'''y  been 
establi.shed  on  a  i>crmanent  base.     Nay,  the  manufacture  of  cotton 


t 


132 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


(the  staple  being  supplied  from  Barbadoes)  had  already  made  a 
commencement. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  Long  Parliament,  the  Puritan  and 
revolutionary  element  of  which  was  so  greatly  in  the  ascendant, 
looked  with  warm  sympathy  to  the  New  England  colonists;  but  the 
latter  seem  to  have  avoided,  at  first,  any  decided  commitment  of 
themselves  either  to  the  political  or  ecclesiastical  strife  which  at  this 
time  raged  in  England.  From  this  distracted  condition  of  the 
mother-country,  and  the  favour  of  the  dominant  party,  they  came  to 
possess,  what  they  enjoyed  for  nearly  twenty  years,  the  blessings  of 
actual  indcpenricnce  and  self-government.  This,  however,  must  be 
understood  in  the  restricted  sense  of  partial  suffrage,  and  of  the 
entirely  preponderate  influence  of  "the  church"  over  that  of  "the 
people."  The  most  im]"tortant  political  event  of  lG-i2,  was  the  an- 
nexation to  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts  of  the  neighbouring 
settlements  of  New  nampshire,  which,  it  was  claimed,  fell  within 
the  patent  of  the  former,  and  the  inhabitants  of  which,  by  their  own 
action,  confirmed  the  claim,  and  were  admitted,  on  ccpial  terms  with 
the  ^Nfassachusetts  people,  as  an  integral  portion  of  that  jirovince. 

As  carl}'  as  1637,  immediately  after  the  dangers  of  the  Pequot 
war  had  shown  the  necessity  of  union,  a  confederacy  of  the  New 
England  colonies  had  been  projioscd,  and  in  the  following  year  had 
again  been  discussed,  but  on  account  of  the  jealousy  of  Connecticut, 
had  been  deferred.  The  latter  province,  however,  wishiivj-  assist- 
ance against  the  encroachments  of  the  Dutch,  at  length  renewed  the 
negotiation;  and  in  1643,  the  states  of  Massachusetts,  Plymouth, 
Connecticut  and  New  Ilaven,  formed  a  union  for  mutual  aid  and 
protection — "the  first  germ  of  that  mighty  confederacy  which  now 
numbers  more  millions  than  its  original  did  thousands,  and  which, 
from  a  bleak  corner  of  New  England,  has  extended,  for  twenty 
degrees  of  latitude,  over  the  thousand  leagues  of  mountain,  forest, 
and  [irarie,  that  divide  the  two  oceans." 

The  chief  objects  of  this  alliance  were  protection  against  hostile 
savages,  resistance  to  Dutch  and  French  encroaehinent,  and  the 
fortilioation  of  the  degree  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  which  the 
se\eral  colonies  had  obtained  or  permitted.  Two  coinmi.^sioners 
from  each  colony  (none  bat  church  members  being  eligible  to  the 
ofiice)  were  to  manage  the  afltiirs  of  the  federal  government,  and  to 
have  the  control  of  peace  .\nd  war,  of  making  public  improvements, 
Rnd,  generally,  of  any  matters  which  might  properly  pertain  to  the 


NEW    ENGLAND. 


133 


government  of  a  confederation.  These  powers,  apparently  so  extent 
sive,  were  ht'ld  in  check  by  the  dependence  of  this  central  authority 
on  the  separate  states  for  the  means  of  carrying  its  enactments  into 
ellvct.  Neither  the  people  of  New  llampshire,  nor  those  of  Khode 
Island  or  of  Providence  Plantations,  although  they  desired  it,  were 
admitted  to  this  league,  Avhich,  indeed,  was  doubtless  more  harmo- 
nious than  it  could  have  been,  had  opinions  more  liberal  in  politics, 
or  more  tolerant  in  religion,  been  permitted  to  mingle  in  its  councils. 


UNCAS  AND  MIAXTONIMO.  —  DEFEAT  AND  DEATH  OF   THE   LATTER 
—  DISCREDIT   TO   THE   ENGLISH.  —  RHODE  ISLAND:   ITS   LIBER- 
TIES  GUARANTEED    BY   THE   PARLIAMENT. LETTER  TO  SIR 

HENRY  VANE.  —  REMARKABLE  FREEDOM  ENJOYED  THERE. 
—  MAINE    ANNEXED    BY    MASSACHUSETTS. 

A  TRAGEDY,  purely  native  in  its  origin  and  execution,  but  in 
which  the  English  authorities  contrived  to  play  a  very  discreditable 
part,  was  enacted  in  lfJ43.  Miantonimo,  the  Narragansett  sachem, 
accused  by  Uncas,  the  Mohegan,  of  hostility  to  the  colonies,  had 
been  compelled  to  appear  in  an  ignominious  manner  at  Boston,  and 
had  met  with  much  humiliation  at  the  hands  of  the  English,  To 
revenge  himself  on  his  accuser,  despite  a  peace,  guarantied  by  the 
latter,  with  a  thousand  warriors  he  attacked  the  hostile  tribe.  De- 
feated by  the  superior  strategy  of  his  rival,  and  taken  prisoner,  he 
was  conducted  to  Hartford,  wlierc  Uncas,  with  a  moderation  which 
might  seem  surprising,  but  for  the  result  which  he  probably  consid- 
ered as  certain,  referred  the  destiny  of  his  captive  to  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  Confederacy,  These,  acting  under  advice  and  counsel 
of  the  clergy,  so  far  from  inter})Osing  in  behalf  of  mercy,  and  actu- 
ated, doubtless,  by  jealousy  of  tlie  tribe  of  the  defeated  chief,  decided 
that  he  might  lawfully  be  put  to  death,  and  delivered  him  into  the 
hands  of  the  victor.  The  latter,  with  his  brother,  Wawequa,  and 
other  Indians,  and  accompanied  by  two  white  men,  led  his  prisoner 
along  a  solitary  pathway,  in  which,  at  a  silent  signal  from  Uncas, 
Wawequa,  stepping  up  behind,  sunk  his  tomahawk  in  the  brain  of 


134 


A  M  K  K  I  C  A   1 1.  L  U  S  T  U  A  T  E  D . 


I  I 

|n 

'I 


the  victim.  Tlic  revengeful  cliief,  it  is  said,  cut  a  morsel  of  flesh 
from  the  slioukler  of  his  enemy,  and  ate  it,  saying  that  it  was  "the 
sweetest  meat  he  ever  cat;  it  made  his  heart  strong."  The  tribe  of 
the  fallen  chief,  wlio  were  warmly  attached  to  hiin,  lamented  deeply 
over  his  unhappy  fate,  and  complained  with  bitterness  that  large 
quantities  of  wampum,  which  they  had  sent  to  the  Mohcgans  as  a 
ransom  for  his  lil'e,  had  been  retained,  while  the  life  of  their  leader, 
which  it  should* have  purchased,  was  treacherously  taken.  His 
brother,  Pessacus,  who  succeeded  to  the  command,  took  signal 
revenge  on  the  enemy,  and,  but  fcrr  the  interposition  of  the  English, 
would  doubtless  have  inflicted  on  Uncas  the  same  fate  as  that  which 
the  latter  had  wreaked  on  the  chief  of  the  Xarragansetts. 

While  the  other  New  England  }»rovincc.s,  secure  in  union,  and 
holding  their  political  existence  and  possession  of  their  territories 
either  by  royal  charter,  or  purchase  from  the  original  grantees,  pre- 
sented an  almost  unassailable  front  to  foreign  interference,  Rhode 
Island,  whose  only  tenure  of  possession  was  that  derived  from  the 
native  chieftains,  had  cause  alike  to  dread  the  ambition  and  en- 
croachment of  her  powerful  neighbours,  and  acts  of  usurpation  on 
the  part  of  the  government  at  home.  To  jilace  on  a  more  secure 
basis  the  state  he  had  founded,  Williams,  in  1G43,  sailed  for  Eng- 
land, and  pleaded  the  cause  of  freedom  before  the  parliamentary 
authorities.  By  the  influence  of  Sir  Henry  Vane,  who  was  now  a 
member  of  the  council  for  the  government  of  America,  and  by  the 
reputation  which  his  own  exertions  liad  already  acquired  for  him,  a 
charter,  insuring  extraordinary  freedom  of  civil  government,  was 
granted  to  lihode  Island  by  the  parliament.  On  his  return,  he  was 
welcomed  with  enthusiastic  gratitude  by  the  citizens,  and  the  people 
of  Providence,  in  an  eloquent  letter  of  thanks  to  Sir  Henry  Vane, 
expressed  their  acknowledgment  of  his  continual  kindne.*s  and  pro- 
tection. "From  the  first  beginning,"  declares  this  admirably-written 
document,  "you  have  been  a  noble  and  true  friend  to  an  outcast 
and  despised  peo[)le;  Ave  have  ever  reaped  the  sweet  fruits  of  your 
constant  loving  kindness  ami  favor.  AVe  have  long  been  free  from 
the  iron  yoke  of  wolvish  bisliops;  we  have  sittcu  dry  from  the 
streams  of  blood,  spilt  by  the  wars  in  our  native  country.  AVe  have 
not  felt  the  new  chains  of  the  presbyterian  tyrants,  nor  in  this  colony 
iiave  we  been  consumed  by  the  over-zealous  lire  of  tlie  (so  called) 
godly  Chri.stian  magistrates.     We  have  not  known  what  an  excise 

We  have  long 


means;  we  have  almost  forgotten  what  tithes  are. 


NEW    ExNGLANl>. 


135 


drank  of  the  cup  of  as  great  liberties  as  any  people  that  we  can 
hear  of,  under  the  whole  heaven.  When  we  are  gone,  our  posterity 
and  children  after  us  shall  read  in  our  town  records  your  loving 
kindness  to  us,  and  our  real  endeavor  after  peace  and  righteousness." 
A  more  honourable  testimonial,  or  one  more  gratifying  to  a  pure  and 
benevolent  mind,  has  seldom  been  offered  by  a  state  to  its  benefacitor. 

The  good  people  of  lihode  Island,  in  possession  of  their  coveted 
privileges,  did  not  abuse  them.  Our  liberty,  they  had  boasted,  shall 
not  degenerate  into  an  anarchy.  jS'or  was  this  an  idle  vaunt.  Al- 
though a  very  great  diversity  of  creeds,  some  wild  and  fanatical 
enougii,  it  is  said,  had  taken  refuge  in  the  asylum  from  American 
persecution,  and,  though  perfect  freedom  of  debate  prevailed,  and 
was  sometimes  exercised  stormily  enough,  the  legislation  of  the  little 
state  was  characterized  by  singular  good  sense  and  impartiality. 
Williams,  who  made  another \  )yage  to  Englanl  to  repel  a  menaced 
assault  on  its  franchises,  ever  fostered  the  popular  s{)irit,  and  despite 
the  earnest  wishes  of  the  assembly,  refused  to  obtain  or  accept  irom 
the  English  authorities  the  appointment  ot  himself  as  gc-ernor — his 
wise  prescience  dreading  any  unnecessary  commi  iricnt  Oi  the  affairs 
of  the  state  to  a  foreign,  even  though  a  friend^  ■  j-oiver. 

Il  Maine,  disputes  arising  between  the  agents  of  riva^  patentees, 
and  no  settlement  of  the  question  belag  issued  from  Lngland,  the 
inhabitants  of  several  towns,  by  their  own  action,  erected  an  inde- 
pendent government,  and  ^Massachusetts,  ever  willing  to  extend  it; 
influence,  whether  by  force  or  invitation,  over  its  neighbours, 
decided  that  the  territory  in  question  came  within  her  own  jurisdic- 
tion. Commissioners  were  dispatched  there,  and  the  whole  country 
was  speedily,  with  the  consent  of  its  inhabitants,  brought  under  the 
government  of  the  more  powerful  province.  This  summary  change, 
however,  appears  to  have  been  generally  satisflictory  to  the  residents. 


I 


'  i: 


»*« 


n 


s   i 


136  AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


vj  Jul  tbuu  ijb    xjjXii    xxXa 

OPrOSITION   TO   THE   ITASSACHrSETTS   AUTHORITIES.  —  PARLIA 

MENTART   ENCROACHMENT   RESISTED    AND   RELINQUISHED. — 

NEW    ENGLAND    FAVOURED    BY   CROMWELL.  —  BIGOTED    AND 

INTOLERANT  LAWS  OF  MASSACH^TSETTS.  —  FERSECUTION  OP 

BAPTISTS.  —  THE  QUAKERS:  PERSECUTION  OF  THEM:  POUR 

EXECUTED:    THEIR   COURAGE   AND    FORTITUDE. — 

APOLOGISTS  FOR  THE  HANGINGS. — REFLECTIONS. 

The  authorities' of  ^fapsachusctts,  in  close  league  with  the  clerfry, 
the  elders,  and  the  more  intolerant  church  party,  were  not  long  in 
awaking  a  spirit  of  opposition  among  the  partisans  of  a  more  liberal 
and  tolerant  policy.  At  an  early  day.  indeed,  that  party  had  shown 
much  jealousy  of  any  thing  like  a  prescriptive  government  or  dicta 
tion  in  elections,  and  when  it  had  been  proposed  that  the  oHice  of 
governor  should  be  held  for  life,  it  was  forthwith  resolved  by  the 
deputies,  that  no  magisterial  ofhce  should  be  held  for  more  than  a 
year.  A  direct  collision  between  the  two  parties  had  occurred  in 
KM?,  on  a  question  of  small  moment  in  itself,  but  involving  the 
legal  extent  of  the  authority  of  the  magistrates.  A  small  majority 
of  the  deputies  to  the  general  court  held  that,  from  the  assumption 
of  power  by  these  authorities,  the  liberty  of  the  people  was  in  dan- 
ger; the  rest,  and,  of  course,  nearly  all  the  magistrates  themselves, 
resolved  that  "authority  was  overmuch  slighted,"  and  that  there 
was  danger  of  "a  mere  democracy."  The  jwpular  party,  by  the 
enactment  of  a  law  on  the  point  in  question,  obtained  a  nominal 
triumph,  but  the  magistrates,  the  governor  (Winthrop)  an<l  the 
clergy  retained  their  ascendency  in  the  government,  and  cireum- 
stances  favouring  their  puriH)se,  were  even  enabled  to  extend  their 
actual  power. 

Ill  November,  101(5,  at  an  ti.ssembly  of  the  genor.al  court  of  ^fa.s• 
sachusetts,  a  firm  stand  wjis  made  by  the  government  of  that  cfdony 
ag;  'ist  threatened  cncr(>aehjnents  by  the  parliament  on  it.s  indo- 
pendenee.  A  vehement  and  eloquent  remonstrance  was  forwarded 
to  Kngland,  where  Winslow,  their  agent,  and  .Sir  Henry  Vane,  who, 
desj^ite  some  unkin<l  usage,  was  still  a  fast  frien<l  of  the  liljcrtv  of 
tlie  colonies,  exerted  all  their  influence  againat  the  anticipated  dan- 


NEW    ENGLAND. 


137 


ger.  The  parliament,  possessed  of  the  true  circumstances,  confirmed 
their  hbcrtics  and  refused  to  listen  to  appeals  from  their  justice. 
When,  a  few  years  afterwards,  the  supreme  power  became  vested  in 
Cromwell,  as  Protector,  that  great  man,  with  a  natural  sj^mpathy 
both  for  their  virtues  and  their  errors,  looked  with  uncojumon 
favour  on  the  rugged  colonists  of  New  England.  He  favoured  ilieir 
commerce,  allowed  them  full  independence  of  self-governmjnt,  and 
was  even  willing  to  extend  their  political  power  by  a  gift  of  the 
rich  island  of  Jamaica,  which  had  been  wrested  by  him  from  the 
Spaniards.  The  Protectorate,  without  doubt,  was  the  golden  age  of 
New  England  liberty. 

The  Massachusetts  authorities,  hardened  by  their  triumph  over 
the  jiopular  party,  and  provoked  by  opposition,  ere  long,  b}'  their 
sanguinary  persecution.^,  inflicted  on  New  England  the  darkest  stain 
which  her  character  hstd.  ever  sustained.  Sharp  laws  against  both 
infidelity  and  heresy  were  enacted — the  penalty  of  death  being 
denounced  against  such  as  should  deny  the  infallability  of  any  part 
of  the  Bible — anabaptism  being  made  a  penal  offence — and  absence 
from  meeting  being  punishable  by  fine. 

Had  the  whole  community  been  entirely  united  in  opinion,  these 
bigoted  laws  might  have  remained  simply  aij  expression  of  tlie 
intolerance  of  those  who  contrived  them.  But  a  strong  party  in 
favour  of  full  liberty  of  conscience  already  existed  in  New  England, 
and  in  riymouth,  the  proposition  was  even  nvido  for  toleration  to 
all,  "without  exception  against  Turk,  Jew,  Papist,  Arian,,"  &c.,  &c. 
The  opponcnta  of  this  plan  contrived,  by  protracting,  to  defeat  it; 
but  it  wa.s  evidently  ]X)pular  with  the  citizens,  for,  writes  Winslow 
to  Winthrop,  "You  would  have  admired  to  see  how  sweet  this  car- 
rion relished  to  the  palate  of  most  of  them." — (Bancroft.) 

liie  magnates,  the  elders,  the  clergy,  and  the  church  generally,  it 
would  seem,  were  of  opinion,  that  the  sharp  arm  of  the  law  .should 
be  used  to  restrain  all  dis.scnt  from  their  own  views.  Clarke,  of 
liliode  Island,  a  Baptist,  having  attempted  to  preach  at  Lyiiii,  wa.s 
Bci/.cd,  and  ecnipelled  to  attend  tlie  Congregational  meeting,  wlu'ic. 
Bays  Mr.  I'ancrurt,  "ijo  expressed  his  aversicui  by  a  harmless  inde- 
corum, whieh  yet  would  have  been  without  e.xouse,  had  his  presence 
been  voluntary."  Heavy  fines  and  severe  whippings  were  used  to 
repress  the  spread  of  the  dreaded  heresy.     (Idol.) 

An  obstacle  t"  conformity  far  more  formidable,  and  one  irrepressi- 
ble by  persecution,  was  poon  found  in  the  fanatical  courage  of  tlio 


138 


AMEUICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


,-) 


I 


;  1' 


then  rapidly  increasing  sect  of  Quakers — a  sect,  in  external  demean- 
our and  popular  consideration,  almost  the  reverse  of  that  which 
bears  the  title  in  our  own  day.  An  enthusiastic  and  })urely  .^elf- 
abnegating  zeal  for  their  faith,  caused  them  voluntarily  and  gratui- 
tously to  expose  themselves  to  the  extrcmest  dangers  of  persecution; 
and  at  the  time  wc  write  of,  they  were  pretty  generally  {iro^cribed 
throughout  the  Christian  world.  Two  women  of  this  i)eisua.sion, 
arriving  at  Boston  in  1656,  were  seized  at  once,  kept  in  clo.se  con- 
finement for  five  weeks,  and  then,  their  books  having  boon  burned 
by  the  hangman,  were  expelled  from  the  province.  One  of  them, 
^fary  Fishor,  soon  after,  set  forth  alone  to  deliver  a  message  to  the 
Groat  Turk,  an  errand  which  she  actually  j)erfonned  at  Adriaiiople 
— the  sanctity  attached  to  her  supposed  insanity,  proteclii)g  her  from 
any  wrong  or  insult.  Rlany  othor.s  of  the  obnoxious  sect  were  sent 
back  to  England,  or  otherwise  banished;  and  when,  the  next  year, 
some  of  thorn  returned,  imprisonment  and  whipping  were  freely 
resorted  to.  Fines  were  imjtoscd  upon  any  who  .should  attend  the 
Quaker  meetings  or  entertain  any  of  the  Quakers;  and  lo.s8  of  cars  and 
boriui^  the  tongue  with  a  hot  iron  wore  })rovided  for  the  ob.stinate. 

As  a  natural  consequence,  a  people  so  fearless,  and  even  so  enam- 
oured, as  it  were,  of  persecution,  soon  flocked  in  numbers  to  M:is.sa- 
chusotts;  and  the  general  court  of  that  province,  with  a  rash  and 
cruel  porsistance  in  their  j)o!ioy  of  exclusion,  enacted  that  death 
should  be  the  j)enalty  of  returning  fiom  banishment.  Tins  .'san- 
guinary decree,  j)recipitated  by  the  turbulent  and  eccentric  demean- 
our of  some  of  the  proscribed  zealots,  was,  in  16,')(),  carried  into 
execution  on  the  jiersons  of  ^^ary  Dyer,  who  had  returnod,  and  ol 
Stephenson  and  IJobinson,  who  had  come,  as  vt)luntary  martyrs,  to 
shanio,  with  llioir  blood,  the  cruelty  of  the  authorities.  At  the  place 
of  excculion  the  woman  was  n-pricvod,  but  answered  with  .■-:  iiif, 
"Let  mo  ]iorish  with  my  brethren,  unlos.syou  will  annul  your  wioked 
law."  She  was  sent  out  of  the  colony,  but,  returning,  also  perished 
by  the  hands  of  the  hangman.  William  Leddra,  who  wa.s  oil.  red 
his  life,  Oil  condition  of  jtromi.siiig  to  keej)  away,  refu.scd  the  prolVor, 
and  was  also  liang<'d.  At  the  very  time  of  his  trial,  Christison,  al.so 
banished  "U  pain  of  death,  boldly  rolwriiod,  and  entered  the  enurl; 
be  was  adjudged  to  die,  but  told  his  persecutors,  truly  enough,  that 
for  every  one  they  hanged,  five  more  would  come  to  glut  the:ii  with 
bloodshed. 

Awed,  it  would  seem,  by  the  detcrmiiuUion  of  the  suHlrors,  and 


NEW   ENGLAND. 


139 


yielding  to  popular  opinion,  which  was  shocked  at  these  cruelties, 
tlie  magistrates  finally  paused  in  their  sanguinary  career.  The  life 
of  Chri.stison  was  spared,  and  he,  with  many  others,  was  relensed 
from  prison,  A  royal  order,  not  long  after,  prohibited  the  repetition 
of  these  extreme  atrocities,  tliough  the  minor  devices  of  persecutiou 
were  still  freely  resorted  to. 

It  is  extraordinary  what  pains  have  been  taken  by  many  of  our 
writers  to  clear  the  skirts  of  their  ancestors  of  the  stain  attaching  to 
the  most  undeniable  j)ersecution  on  record.  "It  was  in  self-de- 
fence," thus  the  ablest  and  most  accurate  of  American  historians 
colli nicnces  an  elaborate  a])ology  for  these  transactions,  "that  Puri- 
taiii.*<m  in  America  began  those  tran.sient  persecutions  of  which  the 
excesses  shall  find  in  me  no  apologist."  Not  to  dwell  on  the  several 
inconsistencies,  and  even  the  contradictions  in  terms  involved  in 
this  atfirmation,  it  may  be  said  confidently,  that  such  a  plea  could  be 
adnii-ssiblo,  even  on  the  odious  ground  of  necessity,  only  where  some 
natural  ri'jrht  of  the  oppressors  wa.s  in  danger  of  infringement. 
Though  the  Quakers,  or  some  of  them,  indeed  railed  at  the  woi  ship 
of  the  Puritans,  and  even  denied  their  right  to  self-government, 
surely  it  cannot  be  pretended  that  the  princij)le  of  freedom  was  in 
any  •vay  endangered  by  the  mere  denunciation  of  a  feeble  few, 
then  almost  universally  pro«crilx;d,  and  utterly  destitute  of  f  olitioul 
influence.  But  the  argument  evidently  \?,  that,  by  retiring  froiii 
the  rest  of  the  civilized  worM,  and  erecting  a  commonwealth  by 
themsolves,  the  Puritans  had  acquired  a  species  of  claim,  if  opposed, 
to  infringe  the  natural  right  of  others;  that,  having  established  a 
certain  order  of  things,  thgy  were  entitled  to  use,  or,  at  lea.st,  were 
excusable  in  using,  for  its  maintainance,  means  at  which  the  natural 
sense  of  right  in  man  rcvolta. 

It  lias  l<ccn  as  sediiouply  attempted  to  shift  the  blame  from  the 
shoulders  of  the  persecutors  to  those  of  their  victim.^.  "Hut  for 
them."  (the  Quakers,)  says  the  same  authority,  "the  country  had 
been  guiltless  of  bhxKl!"  The  sjune  may  be  said  of  the  snirerors 
undfr  any  martyrdom,  nay,  under  any  crime  or  op])ression.  But 
for  PiyiiTic  and  his  fellows,  the  mutilators  of  riiarlcs  would  have 
had  a  sinecure;  but  for  Servetus,  the  black  cloak  of  Geneva  might 
have  remained  uncrimsore<l  with  the  smoking  blood  of  vivo-crema- 
lion;  but  for  Joan  B^>ticher,  the  memory  of  Cramner  had  do.«centlcd 
to  us  that  of  a  rnartvr  onlv,  and  not  a  relentless  woman-burner: 
but  for  Cranmcr  himself,  Rome  had  been  sj>ared  her  archest  deed  of 


-■i 


140 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTKATED. 


combined  treachery  and  cruelty.  No  persecution,  of  course,  can 
exist  without  its  legitimate  prey.  That  prey  is,  almost  iuvariably, 
a  small,  but  brave  and  stubborn  minority',  which,  by  its  unbending 
opposition,  inflames  to  madness  the  jtride,  the  self-will,  the  passion 
of  long-accustomed  power.  But  methinks  it  rather  hard  that  those 
who  bravely  surrendered  their  lives,  in  defiance  of  a  wicked  law, 
should  have  the  dishonour  of  the  transaction  laid  at  their  door,  and 
be  accused,  at  this  day,  of  shaming  with  their  blood  the  posterity 
of  their  murderers. 

Nor  is  it  fair  to  assume  that  the  Quakers  used  any  greater  measure 
of  provocation  to  their  oppressors  than  has  often  been  customary 
even  with  the  most  undeniable  martyrs.  The  spirit  of  man,  when 
sought  to  be  crushed  by  superior  physical  power,  will  at  least  assert 
itself  in  bold  and  defiant  words ;  and  whatever  the  extravagances 
committed  by  some  wrong-headed  zealots  among  them,  the  demean- 
our of  the  victims,  at  least  on  their  trial,  seems  to  have  been  charac- 
terized by  remarkable  dignity  and  decency.  The  plain  fact — so 
]>lain  th:it  its  assertion  is  almost  superfluous — seems  to  bo,  that  the 
early  rulers  of  Massachusetts  were  men  of  extraordinary  force  of 
character,  bigoted,  self  willed,  and  unusually  disposed  to  tyrannize. 
They  had  resolved  to  have  their  oun  way,  at  whatever  cost,  even 
to  the  shedding  of  blood.  The  people  against  whom  their  cruel 
and  tyrannical  laws  were  directed,  were  few  in  number,  but  pos- 
sessed by  a  sjnrit  of  daring,  enthusiasm,  and  stubbornness,  such  as 
the  world  has  seldom  witnessed  They  resolved  that  these  sanguin- 
ary statutes,  whoso  existence  proclaimed  them  felons,  by  the  very 
shame  and  horror  of  their  execution  should  be  annulled;  and  in 
laying  down  their  lives  in  accomplishment  of  this  purpose,  they 
certainly  earned  as  fairly  the  crown  of  martyrdom  as  any  of  the 
multitudes  who,  for  conscience,  for  independence,  for  fame,  or  for  sal- 
vation, had  trodden  the  same  thorny  path  before  thcrn. 


NEW    ENGLAND.  141 


CfiAPTEH   iv. 

IDCCATION   IN  MASSACHUSETTS. — HARVARD  COLLEOE.  — RB- 
STORATIOX  OP  CHARLES  II. — OPPRESSIVE  ENACTMENTS  CON- 

CERXINO   COMMERCE.  —  ATTITUDE    OF    THE  COLONIES. 

WINTHROP,    THE    YOUNGER. — CONNECTICUT    OBTAINS 
A    CHARTER:     HER    FREEDOM    AND    PROSPERITI. 

■\ViTir  our  forcfiithors,  in  nearly  all  tlie  New  England  states,  edu- 
cation, from  the  lirst,  was  a  subject  of  solicitous  care.  Provision 
was  made  that  all  children  in  Massachusetts  should  at  least  learn  to 
read  and  write,  and  schools  of  a  higher  character  were  not  long  in 
succeeding.  Only  a  few  years  after  the  arrival  of  the  Puritans  in 
Massachusetts,  John  Harvard,  dying  there,  by  the  bequest  of  his 
library  and  of  half  his  estate,  founded  that  admirable  university 
which  still  commemorates  his  name,  and  which  has  exercised  such 
extraordinary  influence,  from  the  first,  in  promoting  the  intelligence 
and  refining  the  manners  of  New  England.  Fostered  by  the  care 
of  the  state,  and  at  times  assisted  by  the  neighbouring  provinces,  it 
enjoyed  a  continually  increasing  prosperity  and  usefulness. 

The  restoration  of  Charles  II.  to  the  throne  of  England  was  the 
signal  for  a  renewal  of  those  more  obnoxious  claims  of  sovereignty 
over  the  American  colonies,  which  had  either  been  relinquished  or 
suflered  to  fall  into  disuse  by  the  government  of  the  commonwealth. 
The  Navigation  Act  (the  child  of  that  government  indeed,  but,  in 
it3  original,  not  designed  rigidly  to  fetter  tiieir  commerce)  was  reen- 
acted,  with  new  and  oppressive  provisions;  a  monopoly  being 
secured  to  English  merchants,  English  ships,  and  English  navigators, 
in  tiie  entire  fureign  intercourse  of  tlio.se  provinces.  The  exporta- 
tion of  a  long  list  of  articles,  including  tobacco,  sugar,  cotton,  and 
other  produce,  was  prohibited  excepting  to  England;  and  ere  long 
tlje  importation  of  any  European  goods,  c.\cej)t  those  supplied  by 
English  merchants,  wius  in  like  manner  made  illegal.  Commercial 
intercourse  between  the  nortiiern  and  southern  colonies  was  bur- 
dened with  oppressive  duties;  and,  by  degrees,  the  very  manufacture 
of  articles  wiiich  might  compete  with  that  of  the  homo  country  in 
foreign  trade,  or  even  in  furuiahing  their  own  supplies,  was  also  for 
bidden,     rfuch  wjw  the  oppressive  system,  the  commencement  of 


ill 


i^ 

w 

■.1 

142 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


whicli  signalized  to  tlie  colonists  the  restoration  of  English  mon 
arcliy,  and  wbich,  finally  pursued  to  an  extreme  incompatible  with 
their  growing  strength  and  spirit  of  independence,  resulted  in  the 
loss  to  England  of  the  most  splendid  provinces  ever  founded  by  the 
enterj>rise  of  her  sons,  or  reared  into  greatness  by  their  genius  and 
industry. 

"While  ^^a.<:sachusetts,  both  its  political  and  moral  prepossessions 
shocked  by  the  prospect  of  the  elevation  of  a  character  like  that  of 
the  new  king  to  tlic  sovereignty  of  England,  waited,  with  a  species 
of  sullen  expectancy,  the  event  of  the  change,  and  even  meditated 
opposition,  in  ca,<e  a  royal  governor  should  be  sent  to  rule  over  it; 
the  other  New  England  colonies,  weaker  in  numbers,  and  less  deter- 
mined in  spirit,  proclaimed  the  new  sovereign  with  alacrity,  and 
hastened  to  conciliate  his  favour.     Winthrop  the  younger,  a  man 
of  high  character,  and  of  most  engaging  address,  was  dispatched  to 
London  on  the  part  of  Connecticut,  to  obtain  from  the  king  a  patent 
of  that  province  for  the  hardy  adventurers  who,  as  yet,  held  it  only 
by  native  conquest  and  purchase,  and  by  the  assignment  of  the 
representatives  of  the  P'arl  of  Warwick.     Aided  by  some  court 
influence,  this  emissary  obtained  an  audience  with  Charles,  who  was 
so  agreeably  impressed  with  his  character  and  demeanour,  that  he 
granted  an  ample  charter  to  the  petitioners.     Hartford  and  New 
Haven  were  connected  in  one  colony,  and  this  vast  patent  extended 
westward  across  the  entire  continent,  including  in  ita   hmita   the 
.ilready  numerous  and  prosjicrous  settlements  of  the  Dutch  on  the 
banks  of  the  Hudson.     By  the  same  liberal  instrument,  complete 
independence,  excepting  the  reservation  of  allegiance  to  the  crown, 
was  secured  to  the  colonists.     All  power,  botli  civil  and  criminal, 
judicial  and  executive,  elective  and  legislative,  was  lodged  in  their 
own  hands — a  constitution  more  completely  independent  in  cdect, 
could  hardly  have  been  framed  by  the  most  ardent  lover  of  liberty. 
Winthrop,  after  this  successfid  result  of  his  mis.><ion,  returned  to  tlic 
j>rovincc,  where,  in  gratitude  for  his  services,  the  odice  of  ciiief 
magistrate,  for  fourteen  years,  by  annual  election,  was  conferred  or. 
him.     Under  these  favourable  auspices,  the  colony  of  Connecticut 
commenced  a  career  of  continual  increase,  of  rational  jirosperity,  and 
of  tranquil  happiness.     The  care  for  po[)ular  education,  which  has 
always  cliaracteriz<M|  her  legislation,  Wius  manifested  at  an  early  day 
Common  schools  always  existed,  and  the  higher  wants  of  tl.o  intel- 
lect, by  the  beginning  of  the  next  century,  were  j)rovided  for  in  the 


NEW    ENGLAND. 


143 


foundation  of  an  institution,  the  modesty  and  humbleness  of  whose 
origin  contrast  strongly  with  the  strength  and  i)rospcrity  of  it"? 
subsequent  career — the  college  of  Yale. 

New  England,  said  Mr.  Webster,  contained  in  its  system  three 
institutions  which  alone  would  have  sufficed  to  make  it  free — the 
Town  Meeting,  the  Congregational  Church,  and  the  Common  School 
— institutions  which  still  flourish  in  a  nearer  approach  to  perfection, 
the  independent  form  of  church  government  being  confined  to  no 
sliade  of  belief,  in  its  privileges  or  its  support.  The  peace  and  pros- 
perity of  Connecticut,  founded  on  domestic  harmony  and  freedom 
from  foreign  interference,  remained  for  a  century,  uninf/jrrupted  by 
any  serious  disturbance. 


.CHAPTER   Y.    . 

THE  CHARTER  OP  RHODE  ISLAND. — CIVIL  AND  RELIGIOUS  LIB- 
BRTY.  —  CARELESS  AXD   EXIEXSIVE  GRANTS  OF   CHARLES 
II.  —  THE   ATTITUDE  OP   MASSACHUSETTS:   DISTRUST 
OF     THE     RESTORATION.  —  REQUISITIONS     OF 
CHARLES   II  — APPOINTMENT    OP    A    COM- 
MISSION.—  ALARM    OP    TUB  COLONY. 


RoGEK  W1LLIAM.S,  having  visited  England,  and  obtained  the 
sanction  of  parliament  to  the  existence  of  the  infant  state  he  had 
founded,  in  1652  returned  to  New  England,  leaving,  as  his  agent, 
John  Clarke,  a  man  of  great  worth  and  indefatigable  patience.  This 
efficient  emi.ssary  obtained  from  the  crown,  on  the  Kestoration,  the 
permiision,  earnestly  beaouglit  by  the  colonists  of  Khodc  Lslaud,  "to 
hold  forth  a  lively  experiment,  that  a  most  flourir-hing  civil  state 
may  stand,  and  best  be  maintained  with  a  full  liiicrty  of  religion.^ 
concernments."  Powers  of  self-government,  ua  ample  tus  those 
granted  to  Connecticut,  werj  secured  to  the  little  province,  and,  to 
gratify  the  benevolent  re^juest  of  the  petitioners,  it  was  expressly 
provided,  that  "no  person  within  the  said  colony,  at  any  time  hcrc- 
jJler,  shall  be  any  wise  molested,  punished,  disquieted,  or  called  in 
question,  for  any  diflerence  of  opinion  iu  matters  of  religion;  every 
person  may  at  all  times  freely  and  fully  enjoy  his  own  judgment  and 
Vol.  IV.— S3 


144 


AMERICA   ILLUSTKATED. 


conscience  in  matters  of  religious  concernment."  Under  this  ancient 
charter,  which  lias  been  in  existence  to  our  own  day,  Rhode  Island 
enjoyed  uncommon  political  blessings,  both  civil  and  religious.  Its 
first  benefit  was  the  protection  of  that  feeble  colony  against  the  am- 
bitious encroachments  of  Massachusetts,  which  was  desirous  of 
extending  its  jurisdiction  over  its  weaker  neighbours,  and  which 
was  efiectually  checked  by  this  direct  action  of  the  crown.  Khodc 
Island,  at  the  time  of  this  foundation  of  her  political  existence,  num- 
bered only  between  two  and  three  thousand  souls. 

An  extraordinary  mixture  of  liberality  and  carelessness  charac- 
terized the  king's  whole  management  of  his  North  American  prov- 
inces. To  his  brother  James,  and  to  several  favourites  and  courtiers, 
he  gave  immense  grants  of  territory,  comprising  nearly  all  the  best 
part  of  the  Korth  American  continent — that  to  William  Penn,  laying 
the  foundation  of  a  commonwealth  of  peace,  being  almost  the  only 
one  whose  origin  was  of  a  j)urer  nature  than  mere  personal  rai)acity 
or  ambition. 

Until  it  was  absolutely  certain  that  the  commonwealth  was  at  an 
end,  and  that  the  IIou.se  of  Stuart  was  reinstated  on  the  throne, 
Massachusetts  hesitated  to  commit  itself  to  any  decided  recognition 
of  sovereignty.  But  when,  in  the  fall  of  lOGl,  the  news  of  that 
event  arrived,  the  general  court,  knowing  that  the  province  would 
be  readily  exposed  to  odium  with  the  new  government,  hastened  to 
prepare  addresses  to  the  crown  and  parliament.  They  stated  plainly 
the  religious  scruples  which  had  induced  the  Puritans  to  quit  their 
country,  averring  that  they  were  "true  men,  fearing  God  and  the 
King,"  and  ))raying  that  Charles,  himself  so  lately  in  exile,  would 
feel  a  sympathy  for  men  suflcring  the  same  misfortune.  The  agent 
of  the  province  was  instructed  to  m;d^e  what  interest  lie  could  with 
the  court  and  parliament,  and,  especially,  to  resist  the  allowance  of 
appeals  from  the  colonial  government  to  that  oi'  England. 

Upon  this  point,  however,  the  new  government  seemed  resolved 
to  insist;  and  the  general' court,  in  view  of  a  probable  collision,  with 
much  boldness,  published  a  declaration  of  riirhts,  claiming  for  tho 
province  the  entire  power  of  apj)ointing  all  its  oflicers,  of  exercising 
all  j)owers  of  government,  legislative,  executive,  and  judicial,  and  tho 
right  of  resisting  any  infringement  of  its  liberties,  as  theretofore 
enjoyed.  Little  more  than  a  nominal  allegiance  to  the  crown  woa 
acknowledged;  and  when,  in  IGOl,  the  Restoration  was  publicly 
proclaimed,  it  wiis  done  with  much  coldness  and  apathy. 


NEW   ENGLAND. 


145 


^fcsscngp^3  were  dispatched  to  England  to  sustain  the  interests 
of  tlie  j)rovince,  with  instructions  to  persuade  the  king  of  its  loyalty, 
and  to  parry,  if  possible,  any  attempt  upon  its  liberties.  They  were 
only  in  a  measure  successful.  The  charter  was  confirmed,  but  the 
king  demanded,  with  some  reason,  that  the  laws  shouM  be  adminis- 
tered in  ]ii.><  name,  that  the  oath  of  allegiance  should  '  taken,  that 
the  Church  of  Kiigland  should  be  tolerated;  and  tha'  lone,  except 
a  property  restriction,  should  be  continued  on  the  elective  franchise. 
Tiie  latter  of  these  demantls,  striking  more  closely  than  any  other 
at  the  religious  government  and  the  prejudices  of  the  colonists,  ex- 
cited tlie  greatest  discontent;  and  a  stricter  censorship  was  held  over 
all  except  the  established  religion. 

Stimulated  by  rumours,  partly  true  and  partly  falso,  of  the  dis- 
loyal spirit  of  the  province,  (it  was  even  rumoured  that  Gi)fi'e  and 
Whalley,  who  had  lately  come  over,  and  were  in  hiding,  had  raised 
an  army  agaiiust  the  crown,)  the  Knglish  sovereign  proceeded  to 
appoint  a  commi.ssion  of  four  j)ersons  to  investigate  matters  in  New 
England,  and  to  iLse  a  very  di.scretionary  authority  in  settling  its 
afl;iir.s.  On  the  news  of  this  obnoxious  measure  reaching  Boston, 
liasty  measures  were  adopted  for  precaution  and  defcnee.  The 
fafi'ty  of  the  charter,  and  restraint  upon  the  landing  of  soldiers,  were 
cspeciall}'  firovided  for;  and  in  view  of  the  impending  trials  of  the 
Commonwealth,  a  day  of  solemn  prayer  and  fasting  was  appointed. 


C  i^  A,  P  T  E  R    VI 


REMOXSTUAXCK  OP  MASSACHUSETTS DOINGS  OP  TOR  COMMIS- 

SIOXEUS.    THEIlt    DISPCI/S   WITH    i  11 E    AUTHORITIES:    THEIll 

DISCOMPITUUE  AND    RETURN    TO    EN(JI,ANI).  —  SUCCESSPUL 

RESISTANCE   OP    MASSACHUSETTS.  —  INERTNESS   OP    THE 

CEOWX.  —  rUOSPERITY    AND   TRADE   OP   THE   PROVINCE. 

The  fleet,  di.«patehed  from  England  for  the  reduction  of  Man^ 
battan  and  other  Dutch  settlements  (see  "New  Netherlands")  in 
July,  lGf54,  arrived  at  Boston,  bearing  the  commissioners.  The 
general  court,  promptly  assembled,  in  token  of  their  loyalty,  agreed 


;«' 


i! 


it 


146 


AMEIiICA   ILLUSTUATKD. 


to  levy  a  force  in  assistance  of  the  expedition;  and,  while  the  fleet 
was  busied  at  Manhattan,  prepared  a  forcible  and  eloquent  remon- 
strance, addressed  to  the  king.  Reciting  the  privileges  of  their 
charter,  the  sacrifices  they  had  made  to  obtain  it,  and  the  liberties 
they  had  enjoyed  under  it;  they  foretold  the  trouble  and  ruin  which 
any  persistanee  in  controlling  the  aHiiirs  of  the  colony  would  occa- 
sion. "God  knows,"  they  say,  "our  greatest  ambition  is  to  live  a 
quiet  life,  in  a  corner  of  the  world."  Any  thing  but  their  liberties, 
they  th'clarcd,  they  were  willing  to  ofler  in  testimony  of  their  htyalty. 

Meanwhile,  the  commissioners,  not  earing  to  make  themselves  unne- 
cessarily odious,  had  busied  themselves,  in  harmony  with  the  colonists, 
in  settling  certain  matters  in  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island — the  "du- 
tifulness  and  obedience"  of  which  former,  they  averred,  wa.s  "set  off 
with  the  more  lustre  by  the  contrary  deportment  of  ^rassaehusctts." 
I'lyniouth,  which  was  promised  a  separate  charter,  if  it  would  sub- 
mit the  nomination  of  its  governor  to  the  conunissioncrs,  ])rotested 
much  lo3'alty,  but  declined  the  intermeddling  proposition. 

These  gentlemen,  returning  to  Boston,  demanded  that  all  the  men 
should  be  assend)led  to  hear  the  king's  message;  but  their  requisi- 
tion was  refused,  though  they  denonnoed  as  traitors  those  who 
opposed  the  proceeding.  The  ^rassachusetts  authorities  refused  to 
state  directly  whether  they  would  obey  the  commission  or  not;  and 
the  members  of  it,  to  try  their  power,  gave  notice  that  they  would 
hold  a  court  for  the  trial  of  a  cause  to  which  the  colony  was  a  party. 
But  the  general  court,  by  sound  of  trumpet,  and  proclamation  of  a 
herald,  forbade  all  persons  to  take  part  in  their  {proceedings.  Foiled 
in  this  point,  the  visitors  proceeded  to  intermeddle  in  the  afhurs  of 
Rfaine  and  New  Ilampshire.  The  court,  with  equal  promptitude 
and  fearlessness,  met  them  by  an  order  to  the  iidiabitants  of  the 
hitter  to  forbear  obeying  or  abetting  them,  at  their  peril.  In  Maine, 
indeed,  they  set  up  a  royal  government;  but  not  long  after  their 
dejjarturo,  Ma.ssaehusetts,  by  force  of  arms,  ri!establi.shed  its  authority 
there.  They  finally  returned  to  England  in  much  wrath  and  disap- 
{)ointment,  without  having  accomplished  any  permanent  alteration 
in  the  condition  of  the  provinces. 

The  king,  in  very  natural  disj)leasure,  now  summoned  (1606)  .some 
of  the  chief  persons  of  ^Massachusetts  to  appear  before  liim,  and 
answer  for  the  doings  of  that  refractory  province.  The  general 
court,  which  met  to  consider  this  demand,  after  prot^'aeted  prayer, 
refused  comj)liancc,  declaring  that  they  had  already  expressed  their 


NEW    EN  a  LAND. 


147 


views  in  ■writing,  "so  that  the  ablest  person  among  us  could  not 
declare  our  c;i  <   more  fully." 

In  all  this  jHrrcmptory  resistance,  and  almost  defiance  of  the 
authority  of  the  crown,  there  was  no  lack  of  patriotic  feeling,  or  of 
afieetion  for  the  mother-country;  for  very  cflective  assistance,  in 
provisions  and  materials,  was  rendered  to  the  English  navy,  in  the 
contest  with  France,  commencing  at  this  time;  and  whether  from 
fear  or  negligence,  the  king,  immersed  in  sensuality,  took  no  active 
mcasun-s  to  vindicate  his  claims.  After  nmch  discussion  in  the 
council,  it  was  considered  that  the  refractory  colony  was  too  strong 
to  meddle  with;  that  it  might,  at  a  moment's  warning,  throw  off  its 
allegiance;  and  that  the  sa  st  policy  was  to  overlook  its  transgres- 
sions, and  wait  a  more  favourable  opportunity  for  enforcing  the 
obnoxious  claims. 

Meanwhile,  the  province,  left  to  its  own  management,  by  the 
enterprise  and  industry  fur  which  its  people  have  ever  been  distin- 
guished, prospered  in  an  extraordinary  degree.  Foreign  commerce 
(for  the  Navigation  Act  was  set  at  naught)  sprung  up  with  surprising 
raindity;  fish  and  furs  were  exported  in  quantities;  and  lumber, 
which,  by  the  then  recent  invention  of  saw-mills,  was  })repared  with 
unaccustomed  ease  from  the  almost  exhaustless  forests  of  Maine  and 
New  Hampshire,  had  already  assumed  high  importance  as  an  article 
of  traffic. 


CHAPTER   ?n. 

CONDITION     OF    THE    NKW    ENGLAND     INDIANS;    CONVERSlU> 

OP    SOME    OF    TIIKM:     THEIR    NUIIKERS    AND   STRENGTH. 

THE     I'OK  ANOKKTS. — METACOMET,     OR    KINO     THILIP; 
HIS   GRIEVANCES.    DISSIMULATION:    SCHEME   FOR   THE 
DESTRUCTION      OF     THE     ENGLISH. — CAPTAIN 
CHURCH:     HIS    CHARACTER,    ETC.:     HE    DIS- 
CONCERTS    AN     INTKIGUE     OF     PHILIP. 


Tiioroir  liable  to  the  imputation  of  blame,  for  too  persi.-^tent  en- 
croachmetit,  oven  under  the  guise  of  purchase,  upon  the  domains  of 
the  native  tribes  adjoining  them,  the  I'^nglish  colonists,  to  their 
credit,  wore  sincerely  desirous  of  civilizing  and  converting  their 


, 


148 


AMEKICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


Indian  nciglibours.  ^fjiny  of  the  latter,  by  ll.f  ••.-aisowortliy  pains 
of  tlieir  white  friends,  had  learned  to  read  and  :  t\t",  and  one  of 
them  even  graduated  at  the  university  of  Cambridge.  The  ini.^j.sion 
ary  labours  of  tlie  admirable  John  Kliot  and  of  the  two  Mayhcws, 
had  been  erowncd  with  much  success  in  their  conversion,  'J'he  for- 
mer, with  wonderful  patience  and  diligence,  had  even  prepared  and 
published,  for  their  benefit,  a  translation  of  the  Bible,  in  the  Indian 
tongue.  The  race  for  whose  salvation  this  pions  and  laborious 
monument  of  learning  was  erected,  has  pas.scd  entirely  away.  The 
Bible  mny  still  be  found  on  the  shelf  of  an  ancient  library,  but  no 
man  living  is  able  to  peruse  it.  Around  Boston,  and  on  the  capo 
and  its  adjoining  i.slands,  villages  of  "praj'ing  Indians"  had  been 
established,  and  friendship  with  the  settlers  hail  been  thus  confirmed 
and  strengthened.  But  the  powerful  tribe  of  the  Narragansetts,  and 
that  of  the  Pokanokets,  at  this  time  (1GT5)  nearly  as  numerous,  still 
clung,  with  a  jealous  fidelit}^  to  the  religion  of  tlieir  fathers. 

In  167'),  the  number  of  Indians  in  New  Kiigland  was  roughly 
computed  at  fifty  thousand.  Unprincipled  traders  had  supi)lied 
them  with  fire-arms,  which  they  had  learned  to  use  with  deadly 
accuracy,  and  the  possession  of  which  gave  them  a  dangerous  con- 
Bciousncss  of  power.  Confined,  in  a  good  measure,  by  the  continual 
extension  of  the  English  settlements,  to  peninsulas  and  necks  of  land 
on  the  coa.st,  many  of  the  tribes  began  to  suffer  from  insuflieient 
room  to  procure  their  customary  subsistence. 

On  tlie  death  of  Mas.sasoit,  the  earliest  and  firmest  friend  of  the 
English,  his  son,  Wamsutta,  or,  as  he  was  called  by  the  latter,  Alex- 
ander, succeeded  him  in  the  sway  of  the  Pokanokets.  Oidy  a  few 
months  alter  his  accession,  on  some  vague  suspicion,  he  was  seized 
by  a  ]iarty  of  English,  and  carried  prisoner  into  Plymouth,  where, 
in  a  fow  days,  he  died  of  a  fever,  brought  on  by  anger  and  irritation. 
His  brother,  ^fetacomet,  more  commonly  known  as  the  fimous  King 
Philip,  succeeded  to  the  throne,  and,  from  profound  policy,  main- 
tained an  appearance  of  great  friendship  for  the  whites.  Eor  nine 
Vears,  with  extraordinarv  dissimulation,  thonirli  eheri.shinir  feeliuL'S 
of  revenge  for  the  death  of  his  brother,  and  the  encroachments  on 
his  territory,  ho  mnintained  the  appearance  of  amity.  Some  disputes, 
indeed,  eau.-ed  by  the  latter  grievance,  as  early  as  1071,  had  occur- 
red; and  I'liilip,  strangely  enough,  subscribed  a  set  of  articles, 
yieldimr  almost  every  point  in  question,  and,  in  a  manner,  "deliver- 
ing himself,  body  and  soul,  into  the  hands  of  the  Plymouth  author- 


KEW   ENGLAND. 


U9 


itics.  ITis  motive,  (loul)tlcss,  was  to  blind  liig  enemies  .is  to  tho 
extent  and  dangerous  nature  of  tlie  conspiracy  lie  was  meditating. 
His  plan  was  noiliing  less  than  the  eouijtlete  extermination  of  the 
whites,  and  in  its  prusecution  he  displayed  a  policy,  courage,  aid 
perseverance,  which,  in  a  savaje,  have  never  been  surpassed.  To 
knit  tlie  clans  of  New  Knghuul,  iiumcmorially  dissevered  by  tra- 
ditii)nal  feud  and  enmity,  into  a  confederacy  against  a  i'oo  so  terrible 
as  the  E)iglish,  might  well  have  seemed  to  the  most  sanguine  a  hope- 
less task  ;  ^-et  such  was  the  object  to  which  Phil'p  bent  all  his  policy 
and  energy,  and  in  which,  to  a  great  extent,  he  succeeded."  Argu- 
ment, persuasion,  and  menace,  were  each,  in  turn,  applied  with  the 
utmost  adroitness. 

In  the  spring  of  107.',  he  scjit  six  ambassadors  to  Awashonk.s, 
queen  of  the  Scjgkonates,  demanding,  on  jiain  of  his  own  vengeance, 
and  of  exposure  (by  an  artful  device)  to  the  resentment  of  the  Kng- 
lish  themselves,  that  the  tribe  should  join  his  league.  A  solemn 
dance  was  ap[)ointcd,  to  decide  the  question,  and  Awashonks,  that 
the  opposite  i)arty  might  not  be  unrepresented,  sent  fur  her  neigh- 
bour, Ca})lain  Benjamin  Church,  the  only  white  man  in  her  domains. 
This  celebrated  man,  one  of  the  most  famous  Indian  fighters  in  New 
England  history,  had  just  .settled  in  the  wilderness  of  Sogkonate. 
"  lie  was  a  num  of  untlaunted  courage,  of  a  sagacity  fitted  to  cope 
with  the  wiliest  tactics  of  Indian  warfare,  and,  withal,  of  a  kindly 
and  generous  disposition,  which,  except  when  engaged  in  immediate 
hostilities,  seem  to  have  .secured  for  him  the  res{)eet  and  attachment 
of  the  wild  tribes  which  he  so  often  encountered.  His  narrative,* 
written  in  his  old  age,  by  his  son,  from  his  own  notes  and  dictation, 
is  one  of  the  choicest  fragments  of  original  history  in  our  possession. 
As  a  literary  performance,  it  is  jiist  respectable;  but  for  vividness 
of  detail  and  strength  of  expression,  it  is  .siMucthing  more,  and  may 
well  be  entitled  to  rank  with  such  rude  but  stirring  productions  as 
the  'True  Con([uest'  c^f  Pjernal  Diaz,  and  the  'True  Adventures'  of 
Captain  John  Smith." 

On  \iis  arrival,  a  grand  council  was  held,  at  which  the  six  Warn- 
panoags  appeared  in  great  state,  making,  says  Church,  "a  formidable 
appearance,  with  their  faces  painted,  and  their  liair  trimmed  back  iu 
comb  fa.shion,  with  their  powderdiorns  and  shot-bags  at  their  backs, 
which  among  that  nation  is  the  posture  and  figure  of  preparedness 
for  war."    A  fierce  di.scussion  ensued,  and  u  privy  counsellor,  named 

♦  "The.  Eiiturtaiiiing History  of  King  Tliilips  War." 


InO 


AMV.KIfA   ILLUSTHATED. 


Little  J''ycs,  attempted  to  draw  Clmrcli  aside,  lo  privately  dispatch 
him,  but  was  i»reveiitod  by  others.  The  Englishman,  with  great 
Doldness,  advisrd  Awashonks,  "to  knoek  tliose  six  Mount  Uopes* 
on  the  liead,  and  i?lieltor  herself  under  the  protection  of  the  English 
Upon  which,  the  Mount  Hopes  were  for  the  present  dumb."  lie 
then  sharply  rebuked  them,  as  faithless  wretches,  thirsting  for  the 
blood  of  their  neighbours,  and  assured  them,  that  if  tlioy  would  b'\vo 
war,  he  should  jirove  a  sharp  thorn  in  their  sides.  The  (pieen  and 
lier  people,  overmastered  by  his  eloquence  and  energy,  dismissed  the 
iMubassy,  and,  for  a  time,  observed  neutrality,  if  not  fidelity. 


COM  Ml'NCEMENT   OF    nilLIP'S   WAR.  —  EXPLOIT   OF   CHURCH  — 

KETRKAT  OF  Till;  INDIANS.  —  PJIILir  ROl\sES  THE  TRIBES. 

—  DESTRUCTION     OF    TOWNS,    ETC.  —  THE    ATTACK    ON 

HADI.EV:     REPULSED    BY    GOPFE.  —  GREAT    LOSSES 

OF     THi;     ENGLISH. — SPRINGFIFLD     BURNED. 

It  was  soon  evident  tliat  Philip  was  preparing  for  active  war.  ITc 
tent  all  the  women  and  children  of  his  tribe  into  the  Xarragan.sctt 
country,  and  held  a  great  dance,  lasting  for  several  week.s,  wiiii  all 
the  warriors  of  his  neighbourhood.  'J'he  first  blow  was  struck  on 
the  21th  of  June,  in  an  attack  on  the  little  town  of  Swansey.  Nino 
of  the  .settlers  were  killed,  and  the  rest  fled,  while  the  Indians  fired 
their  deserted  duelling.^.  Soldiers  were  sent  from  Ma5.saehu.st'tt.s, 
and  CluHvh,  with  a  company  from  IMymouth,  hai^tened  to  the  fron- 
tier. IMiilip  was  eompolled  to  flee,  but  only  to  ravage  t];o  country 
in  other  remote  spc)t.«4.  Church,  with  only  nineteen  men,  holding  on 
in  pursuit,  at  last,  on  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Tiverton,  fell 
in  with  three  liundred  of  the  enemy.  "Tiic  hill,"  he  tells  u.**, 
"seemed  to  move,  l)eing  covered  over  with  Indian.'^,  wiili  their 
bright  guns  gliiterinjf  in  the  sun,  and  ruiuiing  in  a  circui'iferchcc 
with  a  design  to  surround  them."  I'rom  a  place  of  vantage,  t!ic 
F'ngli.^h  defended  them.^elvcs  with  much  courage  and  desperation 
till  t;d<en  olV  by  a  vessel  which  ( ame  to  their  aid,  covering  theii 

*  So  t'ulli'il,  (ruin  Mount  IIu{h.*,  tliu  fuvourito  Mat  aC  Philip. 


isj)atcb 
great 
no])es* 
English 
."  He 
ibr  the 
IJ  h-^ve 
en  and 


V 


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AM  V.lMiA   ILLUSTRATED. 


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y.  iglishnitra,  With  great 

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NEW   ENGLAND. 


151 


embarkation  with  her  fire.  "When  all  were  on  board  but  Churcb, 
that  daring  man,  who  had  left  hi:j  hat  and  cutlass  by  a  sprintr,  de- 
clared he  would  never  leave  th'-ni  as  trcjphies  for  the  enemy.  Load- 
ing his  gun  with  his  last  charge  of  powder,  he  went  back,  and  brought 
them  off,  amid  a  shower  of  bullets,  some  of  which  grazed  his  person. 

The  English  forces,  at  last  uniting,  after  oome  indecisive  engage- 
ments, compelled  Philip  and  his  v/arr'ors  to  take  refuge  in  a  great 
swamp  at  l'oca^JSCt;  their  camp,  con.si.sting  of  a  hundred  new  wig- 
wam-s,  being  deserted.  A  great  number  of  Indians,  who  had  sur- 
rendered under  fair  ])romises,  were  tr  acherously  transported  as 
slaves — a  piece  of  perfidious  cruelty  against  which  Church  vainly 
remonstrated.  That  active  oflicer,  if  permitted,  could  at  this  time, 
probably,  by  a  close  jjursuit  of  the  Indians,  have  ended  the  war,  but 
he  was  contymally  thwarted  and  embarrassed  by  tlie  inactivity  and 
obstinacy  of  his  superiors. 

Defeated,  with  a  loss  of  thirty  warriors,  in  another  engagement, 
Philip  fled  westward,  and  excited  the  remoter  tribes  to  warfare. 
Numbers  of  the  English  were  killed,  and  .several  flourishing  villages 
on  the  frontier  were  burned.  In  Brookfield,  however,  a  small  lorce, 
under  Captain  Wheeler,  besieged  in  a  building,  held  out  for  two 
days  against  several  hundred  savages,  wlio,  after  losing,  it  is  said, 
eighty  of  their  number,  were  compelled  by  the  arrival  of  reinforce- 
nients  to  raiac  the  siege.  "From  this  time,  an  almost  continual  sue- 
ccs.sion  of  Indian  attacks  and  massacre?  occurred,  and  town  after 
town  was  laid  in  ashes.  Aideil  by  the  continually  exciting  causes 
of  enmity,  developed  by  war  with  a  ^oc  so  indefinite  as  'the  Indians,' 
Philip  had  succeeded  in  awaking  a  general  ho.stility  among  the 
numerous  tril>?s  of  the  frontier.  It  was  supposed  that  he  was  pre.«cnt 
at  many  of  the  scenes  of  midnight  a.ssault  and  massacre  whicii,  at 
that  time,  filled  New  England  wiih  idarm;  but  it  is  certain  thtt  he 
wiLs  .seldom  recoguLscd.  Once,  it  is  said,  lie  was  seen  at  a  successlul 
attjick,  riding  on  a  black  horse,  lea[)ing  fences,  and  exulting  in  the 
scene  of  destruction;  and  again,  thst  he  once  ordered  an  arm-chair 
to  be  brought  forth,  that  he  might  enjoy  at  his  ease  the  conflagra- 
tion of  a  village." 

On  the  ?3t  of  September,  a  simultaneous  attack  was  made  on 
Iladley  and  Deerfield,  the  latter  of  which  was  mostly  destroyed. 
The  people  of  JIadley  luwembled  at  their  meeting-lu)use,  armed  as 
usual ;  but,  taken  by  b'rprise  at  the  unexj)eetcd  a.^.<ault  of  the  savages, 
would  jtrobably  have  been  overwhelmed,  but  for  an  unoxpeeteJ 


li; 


162 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


'I 


assistance.  An  old  man,  with  long  white  hair,  dressecl  in  the  fiish- 
ion  of  a  former  day,  snddoiily  appeared,  and  assumed  the  command. 
By  his  courage  and  skillful  strategy,  he  put  the  enemy  to  flight,  and 
then  disappeared  as  suddenly  and  mysteriously  as  he  came.  Many 
of  the  people  supposed  him  to  be  an  angel,  providentially  sent  to 
their  aid;  but  he  was,  in  reality,  Afajor-General  Goffe,  one  of  the 
regicide  judges,  who,  with  his  companion,  Whalley,  had  been  con- 
cealed for  ten  years  in  the  cellar  of  Mr.  Russell,  minister  of  the  town. 
"  rhere  are  Tew  incidents  in  history  more  striking  than  that  of  the 
old  soldier,  so  long  immured  in  this  dismal  habitation,  roused  once 
more  by  the  clash  of  arms  and  the  discharge  of  musketry,  to  mingle, 
for  the  hust  time,  in  the  half- forgotten  scenes  of  combat,  and  then 
shrinking  back  for  ever  into  the  gloom  and  twilight  of  his  subter- 
ranean abode." 

Thirty-si.x  men,  dispatched  to  the  relief  of  Northfleld,  (where  a 
number  of  the  people  had  been  slain,)  were  mostly  cut  cff  by  an  am- 
buscade, and  a  hundred  more,  consisting  of  the  finest  youiig  men 
in  the  country,  marching  to  Dcerfield,  under  Captain  Lathrop,  sur- 
rounded by  an  overwhelming  for.-'e  of  the  enemy,  after  a  desperate 
defence,  were  all  killed,  except  seven  or  eight.  Thirty  houses  were 
burned  at  Springfield,  together  with  "the  brave  library"  of  Kev. 
Pelatiah  Glover,  which  had.  once  been  carried  to  a  place  of  safety — 
"but  the  said  minister,  a  great  .student,  and  an  hcllfio  Uhrorum,  being 
impatient  for  want  of  his  books,  brought  them  back,  to  hi.s  gro.it 
Borrow,  for  a  bonfire  for  the  proud  insulting  enemy.  Of  all  the  mis- 
chiefs" continues  Kev.  Mr.  ITubbard,  ("Indian  Wars,")  "done  by 
the  .«5aid  enemy  before  that  day,  the  burning  of  this  said  town  of 
Springfield  did  more  than  any  other  discover  the  .sai»l  actors  to  l)e 
the  children  of  the  devil,  full  of  all  subtlety  and  malice,"  &e.,  &c.  'I'he 
svmpathvof  the  learned  and  studious  may  well  travel  back  a  couple 
of  centuries,  to  condole  with  the  unf)rtunate  .scholar,  widowed  of  hia 
library  —his  loss  irreparable— bookless — in  the  American  wikkrneaa. 


NEW   EXGLAXI).  X53 


PtUI.ir'S     WAR,     COXTISCED.  —  DESTUUCTION     OF     THE     SAB- 

RAUANSKTT     PORT       TERRIBLE     MASSACRE. MAMONaNT 

EXULTATION   OF   THE   EARLT    HISTORIANS. INDIAN    SCC- 

CKSSES. — CAPTURE   AND   DEATH    OF    CANONCIILT;    HIS 
HEROISM  AND  MAGNA.MMITT.  —  DIPLOMACY  CF  CHURCH. 

At  Ilatfiukl,  in  October,  the  garrison  and  to\vu'.s  people  beat  oft' 
a  body  of  seven  or  eight  hundred  savages  who  attacked  the  phice; 
and  during  the  beginning  of  the  ensuing  winter,  bltlo  was  done  by 
c'itlicr  party,  the  Indians  sufTering  greatly  from  want  andexpo.sure. 
Philip  and  his  warriors,  it  wai  supjxxsed,  had  taken  refii<j;o  with  the 
Narragan.sctt.-J.  The  Knglish  now  resolved  to  crush  this  latter  tribe, 
as  the  nu).-t  easily  accessible,  on  account  of  the  shelter  they  had 
aflbrdi'd  to  the  enemy.  Five  liundred  soldiers,  under  command  of 
Ju?ias  Wiii.-l.nv,  governor  of  Tly mouth,  were  dispatched  against  the 
devoted  tribe,  and  on  tiie  afleniocm  of  December  19th,  a  bitter  w  in- 
ter's day,  after  a  forced  march,  arriveil  at  th'ir  jirineipal  fort.  It 
was  built  ou  a  plateau  of  elevated  ground  in  a  great  swamj),  and 
the  only  access  to  it  wxs  by  the  trunk  of  a  large  tree,  lying  in  the 
water.  Across  this  bridge  of  peril,  the  a.'^sailants,  with  much  los.s, 
inado  their  way,  and  after  a  desperate  battle  within,  lasting  for  some 
h< lurs,  liriiig  the  fort,  renewed  the  terrible  tragedy  of  Groton.  Seven 
hundred  of  the  Xarragansett  warriors  are  sa'd  to  have  t'allcn  iu  the 
light,  and  nearly  half  that  number  afterwards  perished  of  their 
wounds.  '"The  number  of  old  men,  women,  and  children,"  says 
Ji'-v.  Mr.  Hubbard,  ''that  jK-rUhcd  either  by  fire,  or  that  were 
starved  with  cold  and  hunger,  none  could  tell."  "They  were  ready," 
he  narrate.-*,  in  a  strain  of  disgusving  levity,  "to  dress  tlurir  dinner, 
but  nur  sudden  and  unexpeete<l  a.-^sault  put  them  beside  that  work, 
making  their  e<M>k-rof>nw  too  hot  for  them  at  that  time  when  they 
u\h\  their  mitehen  fried  together:  And  j)robably  some  of  them  eat 
their  .suppers  in  a  colder  place  that  night,  most  of  their  provisions 
a.s  vtcll  a.-*  huts  being  con.sumc^l  by  fire,  and  tlioso  that  were  left 
alive  forced  to  hide  themselves  in  a  cedar  swamp,  not  far  olT,  where 
they  had  nothing  to  defend  them  fn^m  the  cold  but  boughs  of  spruce 
and  pine  trees!" 


-m';'-^ 


.^' 


'v-4 


il 


ff; 


«^ 


^1:1  i 


154 


A  M  E i:  1  ( •  A    1 1. 1. 1'  S  T  II  A  T  K  D . 


The  deforiteil  nation  did  not  fad  unavenged,  eighty  of  tlic  Enghsh 
being  slain  outright,  and  an  hundred  and  fifty  woumled,  many  ol' 
whom  jierished  on  the  return  mareh,  rendered  terrible  by  the  sever- 
ity of  the  season,  and  the  want  of  proper  supplies.  Canonehet,  (the 
son  of  Miantonimo,)  the  brave  young  saehem  of  the  Xarragaiisetts, 
with  the  relies  of  his  force,  took  refuge  in  the  west,  where,  in  con- 
cert with  Thill]),  he  jjlanned  schemes  of  vengeful  reprisal.  Lan- 
caster and  !Medfield  (the  latter  onlj-  twenty  miles  from  IJoston)  were 
burned,  and  nearly  a  hundred  of  the  settlers  were  killed  or  carried 
oil'.  I'uitions  of  Providence  and  Wevmouth  were  also  destrovcd, 
and  two  companies,  each  of  fifty  men,  were  successively  "swallowed 
up"  by  the  victorious  enemy. 

The  first  check  to  this  spirited  renewal  of  the  war.  was  the  cap- 
ture of  the  brave  Canonehet,  who,  having  raised  a  force  of  many 
hundred  men,  to  ensure  provision  for  their  support,  had  ventured 
eastward  with  a  few  warriors,  to  procure  seed  for  plantation,  lie 
was  shot  at  Stonington,  having  "refused  to  purcliase  his  life  by  jiro- 
euring  the  submi.-ision  of  his  injured  tribe;  and  met  his  death  with 
the  highest  courage  and  fortitude — a  true  patriot,  and  a  hero,  who.se 
soul,  to  judge  from  his  brief  sayings,  was  cast  in  an  almost  class- 
ical mould." 

"This,"  says  ilr.  Hubbard,  "was  the  confusion"  (confounding) 
"cjf  a  damned  wretch,  that  liad  often  opened  his  mouth  to  blas- 
pheme the  name  of  the  living  God,  and  those  that  make  jirofession 
thereof.  He  was  told  at  large  of  his  breach  of  faith,  and  how  he 
had  boasted  that  he  toould  not  dtliicr  up  a  Wamjmnoa'j  nor  Oie  pariug 
of  a  Wampunoii'Jfi  nail,  that  he  would  burn  the  English  alive  in 
tlieir  houses;  to  which  he  rejjlicd,  otliers  iccrc  as  furu:anl  fur  tlic  war 
(/,v  himself,  and  he  desired  to  hear  no  more  thereof.  And  when  he  w.'is 
told  his  sentence  was  to  die,  he  .said,  he  liked  it  ivdl,  thul  he  shvidd 
die  h'fure  liis  heart  was  soft,  or  he  liad  spohcn  anything  umcorthy  rfhim- 
self,  lie  told  tiie  English  before  they  put  him  to  death,  tiud  the 
lining  him  tcoidd  not  end  the  tear;  but  it  was  a  considei'able  step 
thereunlu." 

In  the  spring  of  1G76,  the  war  continued  to  rage,  seventl  desperate 
R(!tions  being  fought,  with  alternate  success — part  of  Plymouth  and 
other  towns  being  burned,  and  great  loss  resulting  to  both  parties. 
'i'lie  Indians,  indeed,  suffered  grievously  from  cold  and  lnniger;  and 
a  force  of  cavalry,  from  Connecticut,  aided  by  a  body  <)f  Mohegans, 
•vas  very  eflcetually  employed  against  them.     Two  hundred  were 


NEW   ENGLAND. 


155 


ina<Ie  prisoners  on  one  occasion;  five  or  six  hundred  surrendered  on 
ti  dfHibtful  jjromise  of  mercy;  and  many  migrati  I  to  me  west, 
Philip  and  his  people  still  held  out,  and  kept  the  settlements  in 
continual  dread  of  attack.  His  final  defeat  and  destruction  was  duo 
to  the  energy  of  Captain  (afterwards  colonel)  Church,  who  had  per- 
formed active  Hervicc  during  the  war,  and  who,  immediately  on 
recovering  from  hi.s  wounds,  devoted  himself  to  the  task  of  bringing 
it  to  an  end. 

The  Sogkonatcs,  at  this  time,  were  in  alliance  with  Philii>,  and 
to  detach  them  from  the  hostile  league,  '.vith  only  a  single  companion 
the  captain  boldly  ventured  into  their  country.  He  narrowly 
escaped  with  hi.s  life  from  the  venLreaiice  of  so'ne  of  them,  but,  by 
his  persuasions  and  arguments,  at  last  so  completely  won  the  confi- 
dence of  the  tribe,  tliat  the  chief  warrior  ros<>,  and  placed  himself 
and  all  the  rest  at  his  disposal,  saying,  "We  will  help  you  to  Pliili[)'s 
head,  ere  the  Indian  cc^rn  be  ripe."  With  an  extraordinary  savage 
pantomime,  the  clan  j)erformed  the  ceremony  of  swearing  allegiance 
to  their  new  commander,  and  the  deserticjii  of  these  allies,  we  are 
told,  *'i>roke  Philip's  heart  as  soon  as  he  understood  it,  so  as  he 
never  rejoiced  after,  or  had  success  in  any  of  his  designs." 


uXlxlirXiDJu    A. 


PHILIP'S     WAR,     COXTINUEI). — SCCCESSPUL     CAMPAIGN     OP 

CHniCir. ItEPEAT    AND    CAPTUIIE    OP    THE    SAVAGES. 

PIIII.IP'S  DE.SPAIR:    HE    ItETREATS   TO   MOUNT    HOPE:    IS 

DEFEATED     AND    SLAIN;     RARIlAilOUS     E.XPOSURE 

OF     HIS     REMAINS:     HIS     CHARACTER. 


With  an  Engli.sh  force,  and  a  considerable  number  of  Indian  war- 
riors. Church,  in  June,  1676,  commenced  an  active  campaign  against 
the  enemy,  scouring  the  woods  in  all  directions,  and  killing  or 
makinir  pn.soners  of  crreat  numbers  of  the  hostile  savages.  "In  the 
mid.st  of  this  uncompromising  warfare,  we  find  him  exhibiting  a 
hurranity  and  good  faith  uncommon  at  the  time,  using  every  exer- 
tion to  prevent  torture  and  cruelty,  and  vehemently  protesting 
against  any  ill  usage  of  the  natives  who  surrendered.     Once  he  fell 


t'-^ 


t 

I 


15G 


AM  K  lU  C  A   I  LLU?^  TR  '>  "  ED. 


in  witli  Little  I\vcs,  (who  would  have  l<illocl  liim  at  Awashonlc's 
dunce,)  and  his  Indians  wished  him  to  be  revenged.  'IJiit  t'.K;  Cap- 
tain told  them  it  was  not  Englishmen's  fashion  to  seek  revc.ip;c,'and 
took  especial  care  for  his  safety  and  protcctii  i."  The  finest  of  his 
captives  he  selected  for  his  own  service,  and,  singular  to  state,  taioh 
was  the  fascination  of  his  manner,  and  lis  acquaintance  with  iho 
Indian  character,  that  he  generally  couv<)-:od  these  recruits  into 
ilcvoteil  followers. 

Pursuing  the  enemy  into  the  Xarragan.sctt's  count rv,  "he  came 
to  Tauntyn  riv<M*,  over  which  the  Indians  had  felled  a  large  tree  for 
the  j)iirpose  of  crossing.  On  the  stumj),  at  the  opposite  side,  sat  a 
siilitarv  warrior.  Church  quietly  raised  his  gun,  but  wiis  prevented 
from  firing  by  the  suggestion  that  it  was  a  friend.  The  Indian, 
aroused  by  the  nois(>,  looked  up.  It  was  Philip  himself,  musing 
drearily,  no  doubt,  on  the  fallen  fortunes  of  his  race.  Ere  a  gun 
could  again  be  levelled,  he  sprang  up,  and  bounded  like  a  deer  into 
the  ftM'est."  Closely  following  his  track,  the  English  at  last  camo 
up  with  the  relics  i)f  the  enemy,  who  were  posted  in  a  swamp.  The 
latter,  after  a  sharp  skirmish,  were  defeated,  and  an  hundred  and 
Bcvt'iity-three,  including  women  i.  :id  children,  were  taken  captive. 
Philip  and  most  of  his  warriors  escaped,  but  his  wife  and  chihl  were 
among  the  prisoners.  '^I'he  latter  described  his  condition  as  forlorn 
in  the  extreme,  and  said,  that  after  this  last  misfortune,  he  was 
qui'o  inconsolable. 

'•Tiie  unhap[>y  sachem,  after  .seeing  his  follower.s,  one  after  an- 
o'hci,  fall  before  the  fhiglish,  or  desert  his  failing  cause,  had  betaken 
liimsflf,  like  some  wild  animal  hard  driven  by  the  hunters,  to  his 
ancient  haunt,  the  former  residence  of  his  father,  the  friendly  Ma.s- 
sas"it  Li  all  the  picu.-ant  region  washed  by  the  circling  Narragan- 
sett,  there  i.^  no  spot  more  beautiful  than  that  miniatun;  mountain, 
the  home  of  the  old  ssichcms  of  the  Wampanoags,  But  with  what 
feelings  the  last  of  their  number,  a  fugitive  before  inveterate  foes 
and  recreant  followers,  looked  on  the  plea.sant  habitatioii  of  liis 
fathers,  nviy  more  easily  be  imagined  than  described.  Still,  he 
sternly  rejected  all  j)roposals  for  peace,  and  oven  slew  one  of  his 
own  fldlowers,  who  had  ventured  to  speak  of  treaty  with  the  Eng- 
lish. I'hc  brother  of  this  victim,  naturally  enraged  and  alienatea 
froni  his  cause,  at  once  deserted  to  the  enemy,  and  gave  the  informa- 
tion which  led  to  his  linal  ruin. 

"A  few  brave  warriors  yet  remained  faithful  to  him,  and  with 


N£W    KNGLANIt. 


157 


0  inniuitain. 


tlicso  and  their  women  and  chiklrcn,  he  had  taken  refuge  in  a  swamp 
liard  by  the  mountain,  on  a  little  spot  of  rising  ground.  In  Uuit 
troubled  night,  the  last  of  his  life,  the  saeheiu,  we  are  told,  had 
dreamed  of  his  betrayal,*  and  awaking  early,  wab  rceountiug  the 
vision  to  his  companions,  when  the  i'oa  came  suddeidy  upon  him. 
His  old  enemy,  Church,  who  was  liimiliar  with  the  ground,  coming 
)ip  (luietly  in  the  darkness  of  night,  had  posted  his  Ibllowers,  both 
Knglish  and  Indian,  so  as,  if  possible,  to  prevent  any  from  escaping. 
The  result  was  almost  immediate.  After  several  volleys  had  been 
rapidly  lired,  Philip,  attempting  to  gain  a  secure  position,  came  in 
range  of  an  ambush,  and  was  instantly  shot  through  the  lieart  by 
one  Alderman,  an  Indian  under  Churrh's  command,  lie  fell  on  his 
face  with  liis  gun  under  )i  .,  and  died  without  a  struggle.  (August 
12,  l()76.)"f  Most  of  •'  warriors,  under  old  Anuawon,  Philip' 
chief  cai)tain,  made  tlu  i  i>e. 

I'lie  body  of  the  unfo;  <achem  was  drawn  from  the  s  .vamp, 

a  spectacle  of  exultation  lor  "the  army;"  and  Church,  following  the 
barbarous  fashion  of  the  time,  declared  "  that,  forasmuch  as  he  had 
caused  many  an  Englishman's  body  to  be  unburied  and  to  rot  above 
ground,  no  one  of  his  bones  should  be  buried."  "This  Ar/wj"  saya 
Cotton  ^[ather,  si)itefully  enough,  "was  now  cut  into  (punters,  which 
were  then  hanged  up,  while  his  head  was  carried  in  triumph  to 
Plymouth,  where  it  arrived  on  the  very  day  that  tiie  church  there 
was  keeping  a  solemn  tltanlsijiving  to  God.  God  sent  'em  the  head 
of  a  leviathan  for  a  thanksgiving  feast."  The  festivity  of  the  modern 
observance  of  the  same  name,  it  is  certain,  could  hardly  be  enhanced 
by  the  arrival  of  a  human  head,  even  though  it  were  that  of  a  brave 
and  i:ivcteratc  ^oc. 

"The  ghastly  relic  was  long  exposed  in  that  town,  an  object  of 
mingled  horror  and  satisfaction  to  the  citizens;  and  when  the  flesh 
was  fallen  away,  and  the  dry  jaw  could  be  rattled  with  the  skull,  a 
grave  historian  records  with  satisfaction  Ins  odious  trilling  with  the 
remains,  vt'hich,  in  their  life-time,  he  would  not  have  dared  to  ap- 
proach 'for  all  below  the  mot)n.'  The  only  reward  allotted  to  the 
victors  was  a  bounty  of  thirty  shillings  on  the  head  of  every  slain 
Indian;  and  Church,  with  some  reason,  complains  that  Philip's  was 

♦  Mr.  Hubbard,  for  a  wonder,  does  not  fully  adopt  tliia  account,  hut  dwiuinaea  it 
parontliL'tically,  "(wliutlier  the  devil  appeared  to  liim  in  a  dream  that  night,  as  Ite  did 
vnlo  Sinii(.')  t'orebodinj,'  liis  traj^'ical  end,  it  matters  not,")  &.e.,  &c. 

+  Discoverers,  &;c.,  of  America. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.0 


I.I 


Vii 


1^    12.0 


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1.6 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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13  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTER.N  Y    MStO 

(716)  173-4503 


;\ 


'"^imSBS^iF- 


M 


I 


158 


A  .M  E  i:  I  C  A   I L  L  U  3  T  li  A  T  E  D . 


rated  no  higher  than  the  rest.  The  sinewy  right  hand  of  the  sachem, 
much  scarred  by  the  bursting  of  a  pistol,  was  given  to  Alderman,  'to 
show  to  such  gentlemen  as  would  bestow  gratuities  upon  him ;  and 
accordingly  he  got  many  a  penny  by  it.'* 

"Thus  died  Philip  of  Pokanoket,  the  last  sachem  of  the  "Wampa- 
noags,  the  originator  and  the  head  of  that  terrible  confederac}'  which 
so  long  kept  New  England  in  dread  and  consternation,  and  which, 
at  one  time,  seemed  almost  to  threaten  its  entire  destruction,  lie 
was,  undoubtedly,  a  man  far  superior  to  the  generality  of  his  race,  in 
boldness,  sagacity,  and  policy;  his  powers  of  persuasion  were  extra- 
ordinary ;  and  the  terrifying  results  of  his  enmity  sufficiently  evinced 
the  nanbitious  nature  of  liis  scheme,  and  the  genius  with  which  it 
was  conducted.  The  division  and  barbarous  exposure  of  his  remains 
entailed  disgrace,  not  on  him,  but  on  the  authors  of  the  profanation; 
his  sufferings  and  the  injuries  of  his  family  have  awakened  in  suc- 
ceeding generations  somewhat  of  that  s3-mpath)'  which  is  always  due 
to  misfortune;  and  though  the  defeated  leader  of  a  ruined  confed- 
eration, his  name,  more  than  that  ot  any  other  of  the  Indian  race, 
has  always  excited  the  interest,  if  not  the  admiration  of  mankind."f 


Kj    ijjuj    buOi    tL       X     iL.     iL  ^       t/oii    JL  • 


PniLir'S    WAR,    CONCLUDED.  —  CAPTURE    OP     ANNAWO.V    AKD 

niS    WARRIORS,     BY    CHURCH.  —  ROMANTIC    INCIDENTS. 

SUMMARY    OF    THE    WAR. PHILIP'S    SON.  —  BARBAROUS 

POLICY     OF     THE     VICTORS.  —  MURDEROUS     ADVICE. — 
THE   CHARACTER  OP  THE   PURITANS.  —  REFLECTIONS. 

CiiURCir,  with  a  small  force,  followed  closely  on  the  track  of 
Annawon  and  the  few  warriors  whom  death  and  desertion  had  yet 
left  to  maintain  the  ruined  cause  of  the  Pokanoktts;  and,  after  long 
and  wearisome  pursuit,  at  length  learned  from  a  captive  the  place  of 
his  retreat.  In  his  eagcrne.«8  to  8urpri.sc  the  foe  (who  never  camjted 
two  nights  in  the  same  place),  with  only  half  a  dozen  friendly  In 
(lians,  ho  set  forth,  with  extraordinary  boldness,  on  the  adventure. 


"Cliurch's  "Entertaining  Iliutory.' 


\  Diucovr-prn,  &c  ,  of  Ani<  rira. 


^fam^P"- 


NEW    ENGLAND. 


159 


The  bivouac  of  the  fugitives  was  in  a  place  of  remarkable  security 
and  difficulty  of  access,  yet  tbe  captain,  with  his  allies,  lowering 
themselves  by  bushes  over  the  face  of  a  precipitous  rock,  took  the 
enemy,  mostly  sleeping,  by  surprise,  and  secured  their  guns,  which 
were  all  stacked  together  at  the  head  of  Annawon.  That  redoubted 
warrior,  his  weapons  lost,  surrendered,  and  the  rest  followed  his 
example.  Church  promising  to  use  all  his  influence  in  behalf  of  their 
lives.  "I  am  come  to  sup  with  you,"  he  said,  pleasantly,  to  Anna- 
won,  and  the  latter  bidding  his  women  prepare  a  meal,  the  two  cap- 
tains feasted  together  in  perfect  harmony. 

Did  these  limits  allow,  it  would  be  pleasing  to  dwell  on  the 
romantic  incidents  of  this  most  wonderful  surprise;  how  the  whole 
company,  wearied  with  pursuit  and  flight,  were  soon  wrapped  in 
slumber,  all  but  the  two  leaders,  who  lay  looking  at  each  otlier  by 
the  glimmering  light  of  the  embers;  how  Annawon  arose  and  dis- 
appeared in  the  darkriess,  but  ere  long  returned,  bearing  a  powder- 
horn,  a  scarlet  blanket,  and  two  splendid  belts  of  wampum,  the 
regalia  of  the  v.nfvu-tunate  Philip;  how  he  solemnly  invested  Church 
,.  Ml  these  royalties,  as  the  victor  over  the  last  of  the  hostile  tribe; 
a'ld  how,  in  the  words  of  the  captain,  "they  spent  the  remainder  of 
t  le  night  in  discourse,  and  Annawon  gave  an  account  of  what 
mighty  success  he  had  formerly  in  wars  against  many  nations  of 
Indians,  when  he  served  Asuhmequin,"  (Massasoit,)  "Philip's  father." 

This  exploit  ended  Pliilip's  war — a  war  which,  though  it  lasted' 
only  a  year  and  a  half,  seemed  almost  to  threaten  the  destruction  of 
New  England.  Thirteen  towns  had  been  laid  in  ashes,  and  many 
others  partially  destroyed,  six  hundred  dwellings,  in  all,  being 
burned  by  the  enemy,  •  Six  hundred  Englishmen  had  lost  their 
lives,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  whole  country  had  been  grievously 
checked  and  retarded.  But  if  misfortune  was  experienced  by  the 
victors,  utter  ruin  and  almost  annihilation  awaited  the  vanquished. 
In  war,  in  conflagration,  by  starv-iin  n  and  cold,  such  vast  numbers 
liad  perished,  that  the  eflective  furce  of  the  hostile  tribes  was  com- 
])lctcly  broken,  and  many  of  them  were  nearly  extinguished.  With 
the  great  number  of  prisoners,  aiul  the  almost  equally  numerous 
portion,  who  surrendered  on  the  promise  cr  in  the  hope  of  mercy,  a 
cruel  and  barbarous  policy  was  adopted.  The  chief  warriors  were 
put  to  dcatii;  among  them,  Annawon,  wliose  life  Church  vainly 
endeavoured  to  save,  as  well  from  good  faith  and  humanity,  as  for 
the  value  of  his  services  in  future  warfare.  The  rest,  with  the 
Vol.  IV.— 39 


160 


AMERICA  ILLUSTKATED. 


I 

Is 


f 


\  t 


women  and  cliildren,  were  made  slaves,  most  of  them  being  trans- 
ported and  sold  in  the  West  Indies. 

"In  regard  to  the  son  of  Philip,  (a  child  only  nine  years  old,)  the 
authorities  seem  to  have  been  greatly  exercised  in  spirit.  There 
were  so  many  nice  precedents  for  his  execution  to  be  found  in 
Scripture,  and  security,  as  well  as  vengeance,  would  be  satisfied  by 
the  destruction  of  the  whole  house  of  their  dreaded  enemy.  Nothing 
can  better  show  the  venomous  spirit  of  the  times,  or  the  depraving 
influence  of  a  barbarous  theology,  than  the  following  extract  from 
a  letter,  written  by  Eev.  Increase  Mather,  the  minister  of  Boston,  to 
his  friend,  "Mr.  Cotton:  'If  it  had  not  been  out  of  my  mind,  when  I 
was  writing,  I  should  have  said  something  about  Philip's  son.  It 
is  necessary  that  some  effectual  course  should  he  talcen  about  him.  ITe 
makes  me  think  of  Iladad,  who  was  a  little  child  when  his  father  {the 
chief  sachem  of  the  Edomites)  was  lulled  hj  tToab,  and  had  not  others 
fled  away  with  him,  I  am  apt  to  think,  that  David  would  have  taken 
a  course  that  Iladad  should  never  have  proved  a  scourge  to  the  next 
generation.'  More  humane  counsels,  however,  prevailed,  and  the 
poor  child  was  onl//  shipped  as  a  slave  to  Bermuda! 

"Incidents,  such  as  tliese,  commonly  suppressed  by  popular  writers, 
arc  not  uselessly  recalled,  in  obtaining  a  just  view  of  the  spirit  of 
the  past.  With  all  honour  to  the  truly-great  and  respectable  quali- 
ties of  our  New  England  ancestors — to  their  courage,  their  con- 
stancy, their  morality,  and  their  devotion — it  is  useless  to  disguise 
the  fact  that,  in  tlie  grand  essentials  of  charity  and  humanity,  they 
were  no  wise  in  advance  of  their  age,  and  in  the  less  essential,  but 
not  less  desirable  articles  of  amenity  and  magnanimity,  most  de- 
cidedly behind  it.  But  a  certain  infusion  of  disagreeable  qualities 
seems  almost  an  inseparable  constituent  of  that  earnestness,  which 
alone  can  succes'fully  contend  with  great  obstacles,  either  human  or 
natural — with  civil  tyranny  and  religious  persecution — with  the 
privations  and  dangers  of  the  wilderness,  and  the  unsparing  enmity 
of  its  savage  inhabitant-*. 

"The  communities,  icd  by  men  tlius  strongly  but  imperfectly 

moulded,  have,  with  tl.  ^enial  influence  of  time,  and  by  the  admira- 
ble elements  of  freedom  contained  in  their  origin,  gradually  grown 
into  a  commonwealth,  freer  from  the  errors  which  disgraced  their 
founders  than  any  other  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  Their  prejudice 
has  become  principle,  their  superstition  has  refined  into  religion; 
and  their  very  bigotry  has  soflcncd   down  to  liberality.     Whilo 


NEW    ENGLAND. 


161 


enjoying  the  results  of  tliis  ameliorating  process,  their  descendants 
may  well  be  charitable  to  those  whose  footsteps  not  only  broke 
through  the  tangled  recesses  of  the  actual  forest,  but  who,  in  tread- 
ing pathwa3's  through  the  moral  wilderness,  occasionally  stum- 
bled, or  left  behind  them  a  track  too  rugged  or  too  tortuous  to  be 
followed."* 


kJ     uuJj    tXiOi    tL        w      Jj     ui  b         tr6\i     Ju    w  < 


EEXEWED    INTERFERENCE    OF     THE     CROWN     IN     MASSACHD- 
SETTS.  —  SEVERANCE    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE:    ATTEMPT    TO 
TYRANNIZE   THERE:    ITS  FAILURE,  —  ACTION   OF   MAS- 
SACHUSETTS.—  PROCEEDINCS  AGAINST   ITS  CHARTER. 
—  VAIN    OPPOSITION    AND    REMONSTRANCE. — 
THE     CHARTER     ANNULLED. 


icir 

ice 

on; 

hilo 


The  English  government,  gaining  courage  from  the  gradual  estab- 
lishment of  arbitrary  power  at  home,  and  still  desirous  to  curb 
the  growing  spirit  of  independence  in  Massachusetts,  in  1676,  dis- 
patched thither  Edward  llandolph  as  its  special  agent.  This  func- 
tionary was  coldly  received  by  the  provincial  authorities,  who  again 
explicitly  denied  the  right  of  the  crown  or  the  parliament  to  inter- 
meddle with  its  government,  lleturning,  after  a  sojourn  of  only 
six  weeks,  to  England,  he  excited  the  jealousy  and  inflamed  the 
cupidity  of  the  court  by  very  exaggerated  accounts  of  its  wealth  and 
population.  By  a  decision  of  the  privy  council,  the  claim  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, certainly  rather  untenable,  to  jurisdiction  over  Maine  and 
New  Hampshire,  was  set  aside.  Nevertheless,  by  purchase  from  the 
heirs  of  the  patentee  (Gorges)  she  speedily  again  got  possession  of 
great  i)art  of  the  former  province;  and,  whereas  it  had  formerly 
been  considered  an  integral  part  of  her  dominion,  it  was  now  gov- 
erned as  a  mere  colony  of  Massachusetts,  the  officers  being  appointed 
by  those  of  that  state.  This  change  naturally  led  to  much  discon- 
tent, the  manifestation  of  which,  however,  was  forcibly  suppressed 
by  the  new  claimant  of  sovereignty. 

In  New  Uainpshirc,  severed  from  Massachusetts,  a  direct  royal 

*  Discoverers,  &.c.,  of  America. 


162 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


government  was  set  up,  the  offices  of  president,  &e.,  being  filled  by 
the  act  of  the  crown.  A  popular  assembly  was  allowed,  which,  at 
its  first  meeting  (1680),  took  occasion  to  assert  the  independence  of 
the  province,  declaring  that  no  law  or  ordinance  should  be  valid 
unless  "made  by  the  assembly  and  approved  by  the  people."  The 
patentee,  at  issue  with  the  colonists  on  matters  of  title,  procured  for 
himself  the  authority  of  appointing  a  governor.  Cranfield,  the  per- 
son selected,  a  man  of  rapacious  and  arbitrary  disposition,  hastened 
to  the  i;ilUnt  colony,  in  strong  hopes  of  making  a  fortune  at  the 
expense  t)f  its  inhabitants.  Disappointed  in  his  expectations,  he 
committed  a  thousand  rash  and  tyrannical  acts,  continually  inter- 
fering in  matters  beyond  his  authority,  both  civil  and  religious,  and 
striving,  on  false  and  impudent  pretexts,  to  wring  money  from  the 
slenderly-filled  purses  of  the  settlers.  To  these  exactions  the  assem- 
bly and  people  opposed  as  determined  a  resistance — a  resistance 
which  the  latter  finally  carried  to  the  extreme  of  openly  maltreating 
his  officers;  and,  with  his  hopes  of  plunder  and  profit  almost  quite 
ungratilicd,  he  returned  to  England,  bearing  a  malicious  report  of 
the  condition  of  the  province. 

In  view  of  the  prospective  danger  to  the  liberties  of  Massachusetts, 
a  general  synod  of  all  the  churches  was  convoked,  while  the  general 
court,  by  some  formal  enactments,  in  testimony  of  its  loyalty,  sought 
to  avert  the  royal  displeasure.  The  kiugVarms  were  put  up  on  the 
court-house,  and  two  or  three  acts  in  support  of  the  royal  dignity 
were  passed;  and,  though  the  Navigation  Act  was  expressly  de- 
clared illegal  and  not  binding,  the  general  court,  by  an  act  of  its 
own,  rendered  its  provisions  valid  and  effective.  The  king,  who 
certainly  exhibited  considerable  moderation,  twice  .again  dispatelied 
a  message  of  remonstrance  to  Massachusetts  on  its  opposition  to  the 
home-government,  and  it  was  evident  that  extreme  measures  would 
finally  be  resorted  to.  The  province,  in  16S2,  dis})atchcd  agents  to 
England  to  defend  its  interests ;  and,  if  possible,  to  bribe  the  king 
into  protecting  them.  Their  mission  was  in  vain;  and  that  the 
charter  was  in  danger,  was  evident  from  the  systematic  warfare 
against  civic  corporations  then  being  waged  by  the  court  in  England. 
Great  agitation  pervaded  the  province.  Maine  was  surrendered,  but 
it  was  resolved  to  hold  the  charter  as  long  as  possible. 

Legal  proceedings  were  commenced  against  its  holders  in  the 
English  courts;  and  the  judges,  in  those  times,  being  generally  mere 
creatures  of  the  crown,  only  one  issue  could  be  looked  for.     Tho 


NEW    E  N  G  L  A  >;  D  . 


163 


king,  at  this  juncture,  once  inc,;o  suggested  the  wisjoni  of  a  direct 
submission,  promising,  on  that  condition,  his  favoi\.r,  and  as  little 
infringement  on  their  charter  as  might  consist  with  the  right  of  his 
government.  Judging  from  the  fate  of  the  civic  corporations  in 
England,  (for  even  London  had  been  compelled  to  succumb  before  ' 
the  royal  power,)  the  prospect  of  successful  resistance  in  the  courts 
of  law  appeared  entirel}^  hopeless.  The  governor  and  nuigistrates 
accordingly  resolved  at  last  to  try  the  eflfect  of  an  unqualified  sub- 
mission, and  throw  themselves  on  the  king's  forbearance.  A 
proposal  that  agents,  to  receive  the  royal  commands,  should  be  dis- 
patched to  England,  was  sent  in  to  the  house  of  deputies;  but  that 
more  popular  body,  after  an  animated  debate  of  a  fortnight,  refused, 
by  their  own  act,  to  sanction  the  surrender  of  their  liberties.  The 
successful  opposition  of  former  times  was  recalled,  and  it  was  even 
urged  as  a  matter  of  religion  not  voluntarily  to  put  the  state  into 
the  hands  of  a  power  inimical  to  its  professed  faith.  With  extraor- 
dinary firmness  and  spirit,  they  resolved  to  make  no  voluntary 
sacriiice,  and  only  to  flill,  as  a  body  politic,  before  the  pressure  of 
superior  power.  The  latter  result  must  have  been  foreseen.  Re- 
monstrance to  the  king  proved  fruitless;  and  in  June,  1684,  the 
English  judges,  then,  as  from  the  earliest  times,  mere  agents  to  effect 
the  pleasure  of  the  crown,  declared  the  charter  forfeited.  Thus,  for 
a  time,  fell  the  independence  of  Massachusetts — an  independence,  it 
must  be  owned,  at  times,  ungraciously  asserted  and  arbitrarily  exer- 
cised; but  of  which  the  main  defects  lay  in  the  fact  that  it  was  an 
independence  rather  in  name  than  in  fact;  the  authority  of  the 
magistrates,  and  the  overshadowing  influence  of  the  church,  consti- 
tuting a  species  of  mingled  aristocracy  and  theocracy  sufficiently 
repugnant  to  more  enlightened  ideas  of  freedom.  Yet,  doubtless, 
oven  this  imperfect  form  of  liberty  and  self  government  was  in  the 
highest  degree  useful  in  training  the  minds  of  the  colonists  to  a 
jealousy  of  foreign  power,  and  fostering  the  germ  of  a  liriner  and 
more  liberal  national  spirit. 


SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  CAROLINAS. 


FAILURE   TO   PLANT   COLONIES  IN  THE  SOUTH. — EJIIGRATIOxN 
FROM   VIRGINIA  TO  NORTH  CAROLINA:   FROJf  BARBADOES  TO 
SOUTH    CAROLINA. — THE   PATENT    OF    CHARLES    II. — 
LEGISLATION   OF    LOCKE   AND   SHAFTESBURY. CUM- 
BROUS SYSTEM  OF  GOVERNMENT. — DISCONTENT  OF 
THE  SETTLERS.  —  INSURRECTION  IN   NORTH 
CAROLINA. — SOTHEL  DEPOSED  BY  THE  PEO- 
PLE.—  CHARLESTON   FOUNDED.  —  CON- 
STITUTION OF  LOCKE  RELINQUISHED. 

The  first  attempt  of  the  English  to  found  a  settlement  in  America 
had  been  made  in  the  mild  regions  lying  south  of  Virginia.  The 
disastrous  failure  of  that  attempt  (Raleigh's),  combined  with  the  diffi- 
culty of  access  and  a  dread  of  Spanish  cruelty,  had  retarded  any 
further  effort  in  the  same  direction;  and  while  the  bleaker  and  less 
fertile  provinces  of  the  north  were  rapidly  filling  up  with  continued 
emigration,  no  enterprise  was  directed  to  the  rich  soil  and  genial 
climate  of  the  south.  Sir  Robert  Heath,  in  1630,  indeed,  obtained 
of  Charles  I.  a  patent  for  the  foundation  of  a  colony  there ;  but  this 
instrument,  from  his  failure  to  effect  a  settlement,  became  forfeited. 

Colonists  from  Virginia,  between  the  years  16-iO  and  1G50,  suffer- 
ing from  religious  intolerance,  took  refuge  beyond  the  borders  of 
that  province,  and  formed  settlements  on  the  northern  shores  of 
Albemarle  Sound — since  known  as  North  Carolina.  By  the  fertility 
of  the  soil  and  the  mildness  of  tlio  winters,  they  soon  lived  in  case, 
their  cattle  and  swine  finding  subsistence  in  the  natural  products  of 
the  country;  and  their  numbers  were  yearly  increased  by  fresh 
emigration.  Some  adventurers  from  Jrassachusctts,  in  IGGl,  made 
an  attempt  to  found  a  settlement  near  Cape  Fear;  but  the  experi- 
ment proved  unsuccessful.  Their  places  were,  however,  supplied 
by  a  party  of  emigrants  from  Barbadocs,  who  proceeded  to  the  samo 


SETTLEMENT    OF   THE   CAKOLINAS. 


165 


region,  and  planted  a  colony  there,  selecting  as  their  governor  Sir 
John  Yeomans,  one  of  their  number. 

Among  the  lavish  grants  which  distinguished  the  administration 
of  Charles  11.,  was  one,  in  1663,  to  the  Duke  of  Albemarle  (Gen 
Monlc),  Locd  Ashley  Cooper  (afterwards  the  famous  Earl  of  Shaftes- 
bur}'),  to  Berkely,  the  governor  of  Virginia,  and  others,  conveying 
to  them  all  Carolina,  from  the  thirty-sixth  degree  of  latitude  to  the 
rive"  San  Matheo.  The  patentees,  desirous  to  people  their  vast  ter- 
ritory, gave  much  encouragement  to  those  who  had  already  settled 
there,  assuring  them  of  considerable  political  privileges;  and  Bcrkcly, 
bringing  additional  emigrants  from  Virginia  to  North  Carolina, 
settled  them  under  the  popular  rule  of  Drummond. 

By  a  fresh  patent,  issued  in  1665,  the  proprietors,  their  claims 
extended  westward  across  the  entire  continent,  were  empowered  to 
create  titles  and  to  institute  orders  of  nobility.  This  singular  priv- 
ilege was  granted,  in  order  that  an  (.laborate  constitution,  devised 
by  Shaftesbury  and  the  celebrated  Locke,  might  be  carried  into 
effect.  By  this  extraordinary  instrument,  the  fruit,  doubtless,  of 
painful  ingenuity  and  labour,  a  system  of  government  was  set  up, 
entirely  without  a  precedent  in  the  hi.story  of  legislation.  Its  main 
feature  was  a  hereditary  landed  aristocracy,  dependent  on  prop^erty 
alone  for  its  right  to  rule.  Tlie  territor}^  was  divided  into  counties, 
of  four  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  acres  each,  in  each  of  which 
were  to  be  appointed  one  landgrave,  or  earl,  and  two  caciques,  or 
barons.  All  power  was  lodged  in  the  holders  of  real  estate,  and  the 
proprietors  were  always  to  continue  exactly  eight  in  number,  neither 
more  nor  less.  "With  a  childish  minutenes.s,  the  details  of  pedigree, 
of  fashion,  and  ceremony,  were  made  the  especial  province  of  one 
of  these  dignitaries.  Such  was  thf.  constitution,  carefully  elaborated 
by  the  most  philosophical  mind  .;■  the  age,  which  yet,  from  the 
unfamiliarity  of  its  author  with  tht  practical  workings  of  political 
machinery,  and  the  needs  of  a  new  country,  never  took  practical 
ellect,  and  soon  lapsed  into  neglect  and  abrogation. 

The  colonists  at  Albemarle,  who  had  already  adopted  a  simple 
code  of  laws  for  their  own  governmcut,  received  with  much  disgust 
the  aristocratic  and  complicated  .system  which  the  proprietors  had 
devised;  and  the  latter,  not  to  increase  the  popular  discontent,  did 
not  press  the  immediate  adoption  of  all  its  particulars.  They  in- 
sisted, however,  on  establishing  a  provisional  government,  but  with- 
out success;  for  the  people,  dissatislied,  imprisoned  their  collector 


; 


166 


AMERICA  ILLUSTIIATED. 


and  other  officers,  seized  the  public  funds,  and  took  all  the  functions 
of  government  into  their  own  hands.  Their  chief  leader,  who  pro- 
ceeded to  England  to  defend  their  cause,  was  there  tried  for  treason, 
and  was  acquitted  only  by  the  eloquence  and  influence  of  Shaftes- 
bury, who  considered  the  insurrection  as  rather  a  dispute  among 
the  colonists  themselves  than  a  revolution  against  the  home  gov- 
ernment. 

The  better  to  carry  out  their  obnoxious  constitution,  the  proprie- 
tors next  sent  out  Seth  Sothel,  one  of  their  own  number,  as  gov- 
ernor. This  man,  corrupt  and  greedy,  for  six-  years  mismanaged 
the  affairs  of  the  province,  enriching  himself  by  bribes  and  extortion. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  the  people  put  him  under  arrest,  and  the 
assenibl}'  tried  him  and  banished  him  from  the  province.  The  pro- 
prietors, however  ill  pleased  at  the  independence  of  that  body, 
could  not  denj  the  justice  of  the  sentence.  They  approved  the 
measure,  and  appointed  Philip  Ludwell  as  his  successor. 

In  1670,  they  dispatched  a  body  of  emigrants,  under  William 
Sayle,  to  Port  Eoyal,  in  South  Carolina.  In  the  following  year, 
dissatisfied  with  the  situation,  he  removed  the  settlement  to  the 
neck  of  land  lying  between  the  rivers  Ashley  and  Cooper,  where  he 
founded  a  settlement  named  Charleston,  in  honour  of  the  king,  and 
since  known  as  one  of  the  fairest  and  wealthiest  of  southern  cities. 
At  his  death,  which  occurred  not  long  after,  Sir  John  Yeomans, 
already,  for  some  years,  governor  at  Cape  Fear,  was  appointed  in 
his  place;  and  the  new  settlement  gradually  absorbed  into  itself  the 
colonists  from  that  region.  A  separate  government  thus  established 
over  the  two  colonies,  the  names  of  North  and  South  Carolina  came 
into  common  usage. 

Yeomans,  accused  of  converting  his  office  into  an  instrument  for 
his  own  profit,  was  replaced  by  West,  under  whose  popular  rule  the 
colony  continued  to  increase  and  prosper.  The  proprietors,  indeed, 
reaped  no  fruits  from  their  enterprise,  having  expended  large  sums 
without  getting  any  return.  Dutch  emigrants,  both  from  New  York 
and  the  mother-country,  attracted  by  the  mildness  of  the  climate 
and  the  political  freedom  enjoyed  by  the  settlers,  resorted  to  South 
Carolina;  and  the  oppression  of  the  French  Protestants,  under 
Louis  XIV.,  also  induced  numbers  of  the  persecuted  sect  to  take 
refuge'  there. 

In  1686,  James  Colleton,  a  brother  of  one  of  the  ])roprietors,  was 
appointed  governor,  with  the  title  of  landgrave.     Popular  discon- 


Bi;,i"i'LJiMiiNT    OF    THE    CAROLINAS. 


16? 


tent,  especially  at  the  elaborate  and  aristocratic  s^'stcrn  devised  by 
Locke,  was  not  long  in  ntiaking  its  demonstration;  and  the  new 
governor  was  soon  involved  in  dis^Dutes  with  the  coloiiists.  An 
assembly,  elected  expressly  to  resist  hiin,  met  in  1687;  and  three 
years  afterwards,  an  act  was  passed  for  his  banishment  from  the 
province.  The  English  revolution  of  1688  had  saved  the  proprie- 
tors from  a  seizure  of  their  charter  by  the  crown.  On  learning 
these  news,  they  sent  out  Ludwell  to  examine  the  affairs  of  Caro- 
lina, and  to  report  grievances.  Such  was  the  discontent  manifested 
toward  the  constitution,  that  it  was  thought  wisest  to  relinquish  it; 
and,  accordingly,  in  1693,  the  whole  cumbrous  system,  with  its 
child's-play  at  nobility,  and  its  attempt  to  create  institutions  which 
can  be  made  respectable  only  by  long  usage  and  national  association, 
was  entirely  abrogated  and  done  away. 


VIEGIIIA, 

CONTINUED. 


RETUOOllADE  MOVEMENTS  IN   YIRGINIA. — REVIVAL  OF   INTOL- 
ERANCE  AND    OPPRESSION. GRANT   OF   VIRGINIA   TO   CUL- 
PEPPER    AND     ARLINGTON. POPULAR     DISCONTENT. — 

INDIAN    WAR. — MURDER   OP   THE   CHIEFS. INSURREC- 
TION    UNDER    BACON.  —  TRIUMPH    OP    THE    PEOPLE. 

The  unfavourable  effect  of  the  Eestoration  on  Yirginta  has  been 
mentioned.  The  renewal  and  enforcement  of  the  Navigation  Act 
fettered  her  rapidly  increasing  commerce,  and  the  triumph  of  roy- 
alty at  home  was  followed  by  that  of  tyranny  and  intolerance  in 
the  provincial  government.  The  great  number  of  servants,  or 
slaves,  in  effect,  for  a  term  of  years,  who  had  been  brought  from 
England,  even  after  their  emancipation,  constituted  an  inferior  and 
uneducated  class,  easily  kept  down  by  an  aristocracy  of  masters  and 
slaveholders,  whose  power  in  the  state  was  continually  on  the 
increase.  There  seems  to  have  been  even  a  systematic  desire  among 
the  government  party  to  keep  a  portion  of  the  colonists  in  depend- 
ent ignorance.  Berkeley  thanks  God  that  free-schools  or  printing 
presses  were  unknown  in  Virginia,  and  says  he  hopes  there  will  be 
none  this  hundred  years;  "for  learning,"  he  sagely  remarks,  "has 
brought  disobedience,  and  heresy,  and  sects  into  the  Avorld,  and 
printing  hath  divulged  them,"  &c.  Negro  slavery,  by  tliis  time 
considerably  on  the  increase,  was  absolute,  the  control  of  the  master 
being  almost  unfettered  by  any  law  of  restraint. 

The  Episcopal  church  was  established  as  the  religion  of  the  state; 
and  persecution  of  dissenters,  especially  of  Baptists  and  Quakers, 
was  revived.  The  assembly  of  burgesses  appropriated  extortionate 
Bums  for  their  own  pay,  as  legislators,  and,  by  refusing,  for  many 
years,  to  dissolve,  set  up  a  species  of  prescriptive  government,  little 


VIKGINI A, 


1G9 


short  of  actual  usurpation.  The  fruit  of  the  royal  triumph,  in  the 
domestic  economy  of  Virginia,  was,  in  short,  as  accurately  summed 
up  by  an  elegant  historian — "a  political  revolution,  opposed  to  the 
principles  of  popular  liberty  and  the  progress  of  humanity.  An 
assembly  continuing  for  an  indefinite  period  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
governor,  and  decreeing  to  its  members  extravagant  and  burden- 
some emoluments;  a  roya)  governor,  whose  salary  was  established 
by  a  permanent  system  of  taxation;  a  constituency  restricted  and 
diminished;  religious  liberty  taken  away  almost  as  soon  as  it  had 
been  won;  arbitrary  taxation  in  the  counties  by  irresponsible 
magistrates;  a  hostility  to  popular  education  and  to  the  press; — 
these  were  the  changes  which,  in  about  ten  years,  were  effected  in  a 
province  that  had  begun  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  a  virtual  independ- 
ence and  a  gradually  ameliorating  legislation." 

Fresh  misfortune  awaited  the  colony  in  the  rash  liberality  of 
Charles,  who,  in  1673,  bestowed  on  Lord  Culpepper  and  the  Earl 
of  Arlington,  (the  latter  connected  Avith  him  by  a  discreditable 
tie,)  the  entire  control  of  Virginia  for  a  term  of  thirty-one  years. 
The  assembly,  on  learning  the  news,  fearing  for  the  safety  of  their 
estates,  dispatched  agents  to  remonstrate  with  the  crown,  and  to 
endeavour  to  obtain  a  charter  for  the  colonial  government;  but  their 
efforts,  after  a  year's  trial,  proved  ineffectual. 

The  oppression  to  which  the  people  of  Virginia,  after  the  restora- 
tion of  loyal  and  aristocratic  power,  were  subjected,  at  last  drove 
them  into  open  resistance.  Discontented  gatherings  and  a  tendency 
to  revolt  had  prevailed  for  some  time;  and,  considering  that  the 
outrageous  taxes  levied  by  tiieir  rulers  swallowed  up  nearly  all  their 
earnings  and  profits,  it  is  remarkable  how  long  they  endured  the 
usurpation  of  the  authorities.  An  Indian  war  was  the  first  cause  of 
insurrection.  Hostilities  were  carried  on  with  the  Susquehannahs 
and  other  tribes,  both  in  Virginia  and  Maryland,  and  on  one  occa- 
sion, six  chiefs,  presenting  themselves  to  treat  of  peace,  were  mur- 
dered by  the  enraged  settlers.  Berkeley,  irascible,  cruel,  and  tyran- 
nical, was  not  without  feelings  of  honor.  On  hearing  of  the  crime, 
he  exclaimed,  "If  they  had  killed  my  father,  and  my  mother,  and 
all  my  friends,  yet  if  they  had  come  to  treat  of  peace,  they  ought  to 
have  gone  in  peaca-" 

The  savages,  their  passions  inflamed  to  madness  at  this  piece  of 
cruelty  and  ill  faith,  renewed  hostilities  with  much  fury,  attacking 
the  English  plantations  in  Virginia,  and  wreaking  a  tenfold  revenge 


Tl 


» 


170 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


for  the  loss  of  tlieir  cliiefs.  The  movoment  spread,  and  the  people — 
their  lives,  bj  tlie  insullicieney  of  the  government,  constantly  ex- 
posed— demanded  the  permission  to  carry  on  the  war  themselves. 
But  Berkeley,  ever  despising  the  popular  opinion,  and  his  interest,  it 
is  said,  being  enlisted  in  behalf  of  peace  by  a  monopoly  of  the 
beaver-trade,  which  he  held,  stubbornly  refused  his  consent.  A 
general  insurrection  was  the  result.  Under  Nathaniel  Bacon _  an 
English  planter,  of  wealth  and  influence,  of  high  courage  and  inde- 
pendence, five  hundred  men  assembled  in  arms,  resolved  on  a  cam- 
paign agiinst  the  enemy.  Berkeley,  enraged,  proclaimed  them 
rebels,  and  was  levying  forces  to  suppress  the  movement,  when  a 
fresh  and  formidable  insurrection  of  the  people,  who  demanded  the 
immediate  dissolution  of  the  assembly,  compelled  him  to  desist,  and 
return  to  Jamestown.  With  almost  the  entire  force  of  the  people 
arrayed  against  them,  the  governor  and  the  aristocracy  were  com- 
pelled to  yield.  The  assembly,  which  had  so  long  sat  an  incubus 
on  the  province,  was  dissolved,  and  on  the  election  of  a  new  one, 
Bacon  (successful  in  his  Indian  campaign)  and  a  majority  of  his 
partisans  were  returned  as  members.  The  successful  leader  ac- 
knowledged his  error  in  acting  without  a  commission,  and,  to  the 
universal  joy  of  the  people,  was  appointed  commander-in-chief. 


O     lijJj      uudi      J/        Ju       dj     bU  6  JL      w  • 


THE   rorCLAR  ASSEMBLY. — MEASURES  OP  REFORM. — OPPOSITION 
AXD  TREACHERY  OF  BERKELEY. — CIVIL  WAR.  —  TRIU.^^PII  OF 
THE   IXSUUGENTS.  —  JAMESTOWN    BUllXED.  —  DEATH   OF    BA- 
CON;  HIS  CHARACTER.  —  RUIN  OF  THE  POPULAR  CAUSE. 
— NUMEROUS   EXECUTIONS, — BEATH   OP   BERKELEY. 
— ADMINISTRATION    OF    CULPEPPER,    ETC. 


The  new  assembly,  with  a  rational  and  moderate  zeal  for  reform, 
proceeded  to  pass  many  salutary  acts,  restricting  the  magistrates  in 
their  arbitrary  and  extortionate  course,  providing  for  the  purity  of 
elections,  curtailing  exorbitant  fees  and  salaries,  taking  precautions 
against  the  spread  of  intcmperiince,  and  finally,  by  a  general  am- 
nesty, extinguishing,  it  was  hoped,  the  seeds  of  civil  conflagration, 


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VIRGINIA. 


171 


The  demeanour  of  the  governor  was  dubious,  and  Bacon,  leaving 
Jamestown,  presently  returned,  at  the  head  of  five  hundred  deter- 
mined men,  in  whose  i^i-esence  resistance  was  in  vain.  Berkeley 
advanced  to  meet  them,  and,  baring  his  breast,  exclaimed,  "A  fair 
mark — shoot!"  but  Bacon  told  him  that  not  a  hair  of  his  head  or  any 
man's  should  be  hurt;  and  the  passionate  old  governor,  yielding  to 
necessity,  issued  the  required  commission  for  war  against  the  In- 
dians, and,  with  the  council  and  assembly,  even  dispatched  to  Eng- 
land high  commendations  of  the  lo3''alty  and  patriotism  of  his  rival. 

How  insincere  w^ere  his  intentions  is  evident  from  the  fact  that, 
just  as  the  province  was  regaining  confidence,  and  Bacon  com- 
mencing a  campaign  against  the  enemy,  he  repaired  to  Gloucester 
county,  and  again  proclaimed  him  a  traitor.  The  latter,  in  turn, 
summoned  a  convention  of  the  principal  persons  of  the  colony  at  Wil- 
liamsburgh,  when  all  present  took  oath  to  maintain  the  Indian  war, 
and,  if  necessary,  to  support  their  leader  against  the  governor  him- 
self. The  latter  was  endeavouring  to  levy  an  army  on  the  eastern 
shore  of  the  Chesapeake,  and,  on  the  advice  of  Ilrummond,  who  had 
been  governor  of  North  Carolina,  the  governor's  term  having  ex- 
pired, his  retreat  was  held  as  an  abdication,  and  a  convention  of  the 
pco[>le  was  summoned  for  the  settlement  of  the  government.  By 
the  promise  of  plunder,  and  of  freedom  to  the  servants  of  his  oppo- 
nents, Berkeley  gathered,  in  Accomack,  a  large  force,  of  the  baser 
sort,  with  which,  transported  in  fifteen  vessels,  he  sailed  for  James- 
town. Landing,  he  fell  on  his  knees,  returning  thanks  to  God,  and 
forthwith  again  proclaimed  Bacon  and  his  followers  traitors. 

The  latter,  after  having  made  a  successful  expedition  against  the 
Indians,  had  disbanded  his  troops;  but,  on  learning  these  tidings, 
with  a  mall,  but  trusty  body  of  followers,  at  once  marched  upon 
the  ca[)ital.  The  ignoble  forces  of  the  governor  showed  more  dis- 
position for  plunder  than  fighting;  and  he  was  compelled  to  evacu- 
ate Jamestown  l)y  night,  and  take  refuge,  with  his  people,  aboard 
the  fleet.  Bacon  entered  the  deserted  town  the  next  day,  and,  as  it 
was  doubtful  how  long  he  could  retain  possession,  it  was  resolved 
to  burn  it.  This  was  accordingly  done,  some  of  his  chief  adherents 
firing  their  own  houses,  and  the  little  capital,  for  seventy  years  the 
chief,  nay,  almost  the  only  town  in  Virginia,  was  laid  in  ashep.  Tho 
half-ruined  church,  still  standing,  is  all  that  attests  to  the  passing 
voyager  the  former  existence  of  the  earliest  of  American  settlements. 

After  further  and  signal  successes,  the  career  of  the  insurgents 


I 


172 


AMERICA  ILLUSTEATED. 


was  brouglit  to  n  sudden  end  by  the  untimely  death  of  their  gallant 
leader,  who,  on  the  1st  of  October,  1676,  perished  of  a  disease  con- 
tracted by  exposure  to  the  damp  nights  of  that  unhealthy  region. 
His  memory,  if  tarnished  by  some  errors,  will  always  bo  held  in 
high  respect,  as  that  of  the  first  leader  in  the  cause  of  American 
independence.  He  was,  it  seems,  brave  in  the  field,  eloquent  in 
council,  magnanimous,  honourable.  The  liberal  and  moderate  legis- 
lation of  the  party  which  he  headed  bears  witness  to  his  talent  for 
government.  The  enthusiastic  afiection  of  his  friends  and  followers 
evinces  his  amiable  nature.  That  he  was  forced  into  insurrection 
and  continued  civil  warfare  was,  doubtless,  the  fruit  of  the  tyranny 
of  the  ascendant  faction,  and  the  ill  faith  of  the  arbitrary  governor 
at  its  head. 

With  Bacon  expired  the  hope  and  success  of  the  revolutionary 
party.  Without  a  leader  of  talent  or  influence  suflicient  to  combine 
them,  the  isolated  and  disorganized  sections  of  that  party  were,  in 
turn,  defeated,  and  severally  suppressed  by  the  loyalists.  Berkeley 
was  restored  to  power,  and,  by  frequent  and  merciless  executions, 
evinced  the  natural  cruelty  of  his  disposition,  and  the  t^'rannical 
sentiment  of  the  cause  which  he  headed.  Drummond,  and  more 
than  twenty  others,  were  hanged;  and  nothing  but  a  remonstrance 
from  the  assembly  finally  availed  to  stay  the  hand  of  the  execu- 
tioner. Charles  II.  learned  with  much  indignation  of  the  sanguinary 
proceedings  of  his  governor,  and  said  that  the  old  fool  had  taken 
more  lives  in  the  wilderness  of  Virginia  than  himself  had  for  the 
murder  of  his  father.  In  a  proclamation,  he  severely  censured  these 
atrocities,  and  when  Berkeley,  not  long  after,  returned  to  England, 
public  opinion  condemned  him  with  equal  severity.  His  death, 
which  took  place  soon  after  his  arrival,  was  probably  hastened  by  a 
sense  of  the  condemnation  of  the  sovereign  and  the  people. 

As  usual  on  the  suppression  of  any  popular  movement,  the  futilo 
insurrection  in  Virginia  only  entailed  fresh  evils  on  the  country, 
being  made  the  pretext  for  refusing  it  a  charter,  and  continuing  its 
dependence  on  the  crown.  All  the  late  acts  of  the  reformed  assem- 
bly were  repealed,  and  all  the  ancient  grievances  and  oppressions 
were  reinstated.  No  printing  was  allowed,  and  freedom  of  speech 
was  curtailed  by  grievous  penalties.  Excessive  and  arbitrary  taxes 
were  levied  by  the  authorities,  and  the  condition  of  the  people, 
especially  the  poorer  classes,  was  again  that  of  subjection  and 
oppression. 


VIRGINIA. 


173 


Not  long  after  the  departure  of  Berkeley,  Lord  Culpepper,  one  of 
tlie  two  patentees  of  Virginia,  a  man  of  grasping  and  avaricious 
n"ture,  obtained  from  the  crown  an  appointment  as  governor  of 
that  province  for  life.  He  arrived  in  1680,  desirous  of  nothing  but 
of  turning  his  office  to  profitable  account.  His  salary  was  doubled, 
and,  to  the  great  grief  of  the  planters,  he  had  a  law  passed  for  levy- 
ing a  perpetual  export  duty  of  two  shillings  on  every  hogshead  of 
tobacco.  After  remaining  in  Virginia  but  a  few  months,  just  long 
enough  to  look  out  for  his  pecuniary  interests,  he  took  his  departure 
for  England.  The  misery  of  the  province,  consequent  on  its  late 
disturbed  condition,  on  the  restriction  of  commerce,  and  the  low 
price  of  its  staple  product,  tobacco,  produced  disorder.  Riot  and 
insubordination  prevailed,  and  were  suppressed  by  executions.  Cul- 
pepper returned  for  a  few  months  to  reap  all  possible  advantages 
from  his  patent,  at  the  expense  of  the  suflering  colonists. 

In  1684,  the  obnoxious  grant  was  annulled,  and  the  government 
of  Virginia  was  resumed  by  the  crown.  Effingham,  the  first  royal 
governor,  used  his  office  only  as  a  means  of  procuring  petty  emolu- 
ments, and  thus  rendered  himself  contemptible  in  the  eyes  of  the 
people.  The  accession  of  Jamey  II.,  in  the  following  year,  and  the 
ill-futed  rebellion  of  Monmouth,  increased  the  population  of  Vir- 
ginia, by  a  number  of  convicts,  who,  on  the  suppression  of  that 
movement,  were  bestowed  by  the  king  on  his  favourites,  and  by 
them,  with  shameless  venality,  were  sold  into  slaveiy  in  America. 
Under  the  arbitrary  rule  of  the  new  sovereign,  scarcely  a  shadow 
of  self-government  was  allowed  to  the  people  of  Virginia.  A  feel- 
ing of  r'^.sistance  being  manifested  in  the  assembly,  that  body  was 
dissolved;  but  the  people,  a  spirit  of  liberty  reawakened,  assumed 
an  altitude  so  insurrectionary,  that  the  governor,  destitute  of  a 
force  adequate  to  suppress  it,  was  compelled  to  temporize,  and  to 
forego  any  attempts  at  renewed  oppression. 


i 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  DELAWARE. 


THE  FIRST  DUTCH   COLONY   IN  DELAWARE:   ITS  DESTRUCTION 

SWEDES  AND  FINNS  UNDER  MINUIT.  —  CONQUEST  OF  THE 

SWEDISH   SETTLEMENTS  BY  THE   DUTCH,  UNDER  STUY 
VESANT.  —  DELAWARE  UNDER  THE  DUKE  OF  YORK: 
UNDER  PENN. — DISPUTES  WITH  MARYLAND  CON- 
CERNING  BOUNDARIES. — SEPARATION    OF 
DELAWARE    FROM     PENNSYLVANIA. 


The  clisfistrous  attempt  of  the  Dutch,  under  Do  Yriez,  in  1631,  to 
found  a  settlement  in  Delaware,  has  been  described.  ("Dutch  in 
America.")  The  unfortunate  little  colony  left  by  that  navigator 
near  the  site  of  Lewistown,  numbering  only  thirty-four  souls,  was 
cut  off  by  the  Indians  to  avenge  the  death  of  a  chief,  whose  life  haa 
been  sacrificed  to  the  implacable  sulkiness  of  the  governor,  Gillis 
Osset.  De  Vriez,  returning  from  Holland  the  next  year,  found  nc 
relics  of  the  settlement,  except  the  bones  of  his  countrymen,  which 
lay  bleaching  on  the  shore. 

The  next  enterprise  in  the  same  direction  was  that  of  a  small  body 
of  Swedes  and  Finns,  who,  in  1638,  under  Minuit,  (some  time  gov- 
ernor of  the  Dutch  at  Manhattan,  and  afterwards  in  the  service  of 
Christina  of  Sweden,)  landed  near  Cape  Henlopen,  purchased  lana 
of  the  natives,  and  built  a  fort  not  far  from  the  present  site  of  Wil- 
mington. Attracted  by  tidings  of  the  mildness  and  fertility  of  New 
Sweden,  for  so  the  country  was  called,  Swedish  and  Finnish  emi- 
grants hastened  in  numbers  to  the  province.  A  new  fort  was  built 
on  an  island  below  Philadelphia.  The  claims  of  'the  Dutch  were 
resisted,  and  English  adventurers  were  not  allowed  to  settle.  The 
building  of  Fort  Casimir,  by  the  fofmer  people,  and  its  treacherous 
seizure  by  Eisingh,  the  Swedish  governor,  have  been  described  in 
their  appropriate  place,  as  well  as  the  conquest  of  New  Sweden  b}' 
Peter  Stuyvesant,  the  doughty  governor  of  the  New  Netherlands. 
The  Dutch  company,  stimulated  by  aggression,  and  fearing  little 
from  the  distracted  and  feebly-governed  kingdom  of  Sweden,  had 


THE   SETTLEMENT   Oi"   DELAWARE. 


175 


ordered  their  officer,  "  to  revenge  their  wrong,  to  drive  the  Swedes 
from  the  river,  or  compel  their  submiisiou."  Accordingly,  iu  Sep- 
tember, 1G55,  with  a  force  of  six  hundred  men,  btuyvesaut  sailed 
up  the  Delaware,  ou  an  avowed  errand  of  conquest.  Before  a  force, 
comparatively  so  formidable,  the  feeble  colonies  of  Sweden,  alter  a 
national  existence  of  only  seventeen  years,  were  speedily  compelled 
to  succumb.  The  forts  were  reduced;  a  portion  of  the  Swedes  were 
sent  to  Europe,  and  the  remainder,  on  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
were  suffered  to  remahi.  Many  of  their  descendants  are  siill  living 
in  Delaware. 

On  the  conquest  of  the  New  Netherlands  by  the  English,  in  1664:, 
the  Dutch  and  Swedish  settlements  of  Delaware  came  under  the 
authority  of  the  Duke  of  York.  Disputes  respecting  boundaries 
soon  arose.  Lord  Baltimore,  the  proprietor  of  Maryland,  had 
claimed  all  the  region  on  the  west  side  of  the  Delaware  as  included 
in  his  grant;  and  incursions  had  been  made  from  that  province  for 
the  purpose  of  repelling  settlers  from  the  disputed  territory.  Wil- 
liam Penn,  the  grant  of  Pennsylvania  obtained,  desirous  of  extend- 
ing his  coast  line,  (it  was  "more  for  love  of  the  water,"  he  said,  "than 
of  the  land,")  procured  from  the  duke  a  cession  of  all  the  land  for 
twelve  miles  around  Newcastle,  and  all  lying  between  that  and  the 
sea.  On  his  arrival  in  America,  (1682,)  solemn  possession  of  the 
territory  was  given  to  him  by  the  duke's  agent,  at  that  town,  and 
Penn  addressed  a  multitude  of  his  new  subjects — Swedes,  Dutch,  and 
English — who  had  assembled  to  witness  the  ceremony,  promising  to 
all  freedom,  both  civil  and  religious,  and  recommending  virtue, 
religion,  and  sobriety  of  life. 

The  claim  of  Baltimore,  still  asserted,  was  for  some  time  the  sub- 
ject of  negotiation — the  two  proprietors  at  fir  t  exhibiting  a  polite, 
and  afterwards  a  rather  acrimonious  pertinacitv  in  maintaining  their 
respective  pretensions;  but,  in  16S5,  it  was  decided  invalid  by  the 
Lords  of  Trade  and  the  Plantations;  and  the  boundary  of  the  rival 
patentees  was  fixed  by  a  pacific  agreement.  The  three  counties 
which  Penn  called  his  "Territories,"  and  which  now  constitute  the 
state  of  Delaware,  for  twenty  years  sent  their  delegates  to  the  gen- 
eral assembly  of  Pennsylvania;  but,  in  1703,  dissatisfied  with  the 
action  of  that  body,  procured  permission  to  act  by  a  legislature  of 
their  own;  the  proprietor,  however,  retaining  his  claims,  and  the 
same  governor  exercising  executive  functions  over  both  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Delaware. 
Vol  IV.— 40 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OE  NE¥  JERSEY. 


CONQUEST   BY   THE   ENGLISH,  —  NICHOLS,    BERKELEY,   AND   CAR- 
TERET.  ElIIGRATION   FROM   NEW   ENGLAND. SALE  OF  WEST 

NEW  JERSEY  TO  THE   QUAKERS, — FENWICK,   BYLLINPE, 

AND   PENN, — QUAKER    SETTLEMENTS, — REMARKABLY 

FREE   CONSTITUTION. — FRIENDLY  DEALINGS  WITH 

THE     INDIANS. — USURPATION     OF     ANDROS:     ITS 

DEFEAT.  —  EAST  NEW  JERSEY. 


I! 


After  the  conquest  of  the  New  Netherlands  by  the  English,  in 
1664,  Nichols,  the  first  governor,  encouraged  the  emigration  of  his 
countrymen  from  the  adjoining  settlements  of  New  England  and 
Long  Island  into  the  regions  south  of  Manhattan ;  and  settlements 
were  made  at  Elizabethtown,  Newark,  and  other  localities.  The 
Duke  of  York,  the  patentee  of  the  whole  country,  in  the  very  year 
of  the  conquest,  assigned  to  Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret 
the  territories  lying  between  the  Hudson  and  the  Delaware.  In 
compliment  to  the  latter,  who,  during  the  civil  contests  in  England, 
had  held  the  island  of  Jersey  for  the  royal  party,  the  country 
received  its  present  name. 

Philip  Carteret,  appointed  governor  by  the  new  proprietors,  came 
over  the  next  year,  and  selected  Elizabethtown  as  the  capital  of  the 
province.  By  oflering  favourable  terms,  he  induced  many  to  emi- 
grate thither  from  New  England,  and  the  population  of  the  colony 
continued  to  increase.  A  question  concerning  the  titles  issued  by 
Nichols,  combined  with  other  causes  of  discontent,  in  1672,  excited 
a  popular  movement  against  the  governor,  which,  however,  was 
finally  quieted  by  concessions  from  the  proprietors. 

Berkeley,  disappointed  in  his  expectation  of  profitable  returns,  in 
1674,  for  the  inconsiderable  sum  of  a  thousand  pounds,  sold  his 
share  of  New  Jersey  to  the  Quakers,  who  were  eager  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  purchase  in  the  New  World  a  refuge  for  their  proscribed 


THE   SETTLEMENT   OF    NEW    JERSEY. 


177 


faith  and  persons.  The  assignment  was  made  to  John  Fenwick  in 
trust  for  Edward  Byllinge,  whose  affairs  were  embarrassed.  A  dis- 
pute between  these  two  was  settled  by  the  intervention  of  "William 
Penn;  and,  in  1675,  the  former,  with  a  large  company  of  Friends, 
sailed  for  the  Delaware.  At  a  place  which  he  called  Salem,  near 
Elsingburg,  he  established  a  settlement,  and,  by  agreement  with  Sir 
George  Carteret,  the  Avestern  portion  of  the  province — thenceforward 
called  West  New  Jersey — was  set  off  and  separated  as  the  share  of 
the  new  proprietors.  Penn  and  two  others,  being  made  the  assigns 
of  B^dlinge,  as  trustees  for  his  creditors,  divided  the  country  into 
one  hundred  shares,  which  they  set  up  for  sale.  All  the  purchasers 
made  vigorous  efforts  to  promote  the  growth  of  the  province;  and, 
in  1677,  a  large  number  of -emigrants,  mostly  Quakers,  came  over 
and  settled  in  and  around  Burlington. 

The  constitution,  which,  under  the  benevolent  auspices  of  Quaker- 
ism, was  adopted  the  same  j'ear,  was  of  a  nature  extraordinarily 
liberal  and  democratic,  considering  the  age.  Perfect  freedom  of 
conscience  and  religion;  universal  suffrage  by  ballot;  universal 
eligibility  to  office;  strict  accountability  of  representatives  to  their 
constituents;  direct  election  of  justices,  &c.,  by  the  people;  extraor- 
dinary privileges  of  jury;  non-imprisonment  for  debt,  and  prohibi- 
tion of  slavery;  such  were  the  grand  principles  on  which  rested 
the  earliest  legislation  of  the  Friends  in  the  Old  or  the  New  World. 

Lands  were  purchased  of  the  Indians,  whose  rights  were  especially 
protected  by  law,  and  the  chiefs,  gathered  in  council  at  Burlington, 
pledged  a  perpetual  league  and  friendship  with  the  peaceful  comers. 
"You  are  our  brothers,"  they  said,  "and  we  will  live  like  brothers 
with  you.  We  will  have  a  broad  path  for  you  and  us  to  walk  in. 
If  an  Englishman  falls  asleep  in  this  path,  the  Indian  shall  pass  him 
by,  and  sa}^,  'He  is  an  Englishman;  he  is  asleep;  let  him  alone.' 
The  path  shall  be  plain;  there  shall  not  be  iu  it  a  stump  to  hurt 
the  teet." 

The  tranquillity  of  this  happy  province  was  first  disturbed  by  the 
violent  interference  of  Andros,  the  governor  of  the  Duke  of  York, 
who  forcibly  exacted  customs  of  ships  trading  to  the  new  colony, 
levied  taxes  on  the  inhabitants,  and  carried  matters  with  a  high 
hand  when  resisted.  On  the  remonstrance  of  the  people,  most  forci- 
bly and  eloquently  set  forth,  the  duke  consented  to  refer  the  matter 
of  jurisdiction  to  an  impartial  commission.  By  this  the  claims  of 
his  governor  were  pronounced  illegal,  and  the  liberties  of  New 


178 


AMEKICi^    ILLUSTRATED. 


Jersey  were  fully  confirmed.  An  attempt  of  Byllinge,  as  propri 
etor,  to  assume  undue  rights,  was  resisted  with  equal  success,  and 
the  Quakers,  by  advice  of  Penn,  amending  their  constitution,  elected 
a  governor  for  themselves. 

In  1682,  East  New  Jersey  was  purchased  by  Penn  and  a  number 
of  others,  from  the  heirs  of  Carteret,  Eobert  Barclay,  conspicuous 
for  his  defence  of  the  Quakers,  was  appointed  governor,  and  strong 
inducements  to  emigration  were  held  forth.  The  cruelties  enacted 
at  this  time  against  the  Presbyterians  of  Scotland,  caused  numbers 
of  that  persecuted  people  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  for 
a  refuge  across  the  Atlantic.  Their  coming  contributed  materially 
to  the  well-being  of  the  country — industry,  endurance,  and  piety, 
being  distinguishing 'traits  in  their  character;  and  the  two  Jerseys, 
not  many  years  afterwards  reunited  under  a  single  government, 
owed  much  of  their  prosperity  to  the  elements  of  virtue  in  the  per- 
secuted sects  by  which  they  were  peopled. 


THE  SETTLE3IENT  OF  PEMSILVAIIA. 


CHAPTEB   I. 

WILLIAM  TENN:   HIS  TOCTH:   HE  TURNS  QUAKER:  IS  EXPELLED 
FROir  COLLEGE  AXD  HOME:    IMPRISONED   FOR  HIS  OPINIONS: 
SEVERITY   OP   HIS   FATHER:    FRESH   IMPRISONMENT:   EXER- 
TIONS  IN    BEHALF   OF   HIS   SECT:    HE   ENGAGES   IN   THE 
SETTLEMENT  OF   NEW  JERSEY. 


"William  Penn,  son  of  the  distinguished  admiral  of  the  same 
name,  was  born  at  London  on  the  14th  of  October,  1644.  At  the 
early  age  of  fifteen,  he  was  placed  at  the  University  of  Oxford, 
where,  being  of  a  temperament  naturally  religious  and  enthusiastic, 
he  became  deeply  impressed  by  the  teachings  of  Loe,  a  prominent 
member  of  the  then  almost  universally  persecuted  sect  of  Quakers. 
For  implication  with  this  obnoxious  community,  and  for  resistance 
to  the  college  authorities,  (it  has  even  been  said  that  Penn  and  his 
friends  tore  the  surplices  of  the  students  over  their  heads,  when  an 
order  for  the  wearing  of  those  garments  had  been  issued,)  he  and 
several  of  his  associates  were  expelled.  His  father,  a  man  loyal, 
choleric,  and  prejudiced,  unable  to  reclaim  him  by  persuasion  or 
argument  from  his  eccentric  views,  turned  him  out  of  doors;  but, 
afterwards,  a  partial  reconciliation  being  effected,  supplied  him  with 
the  means  for  foreim  travel,  hoping,  probably,  that  change  of  scene 
and  adventure  mignt  dissipate  his  fantastic  notions.  Turning  aside 
from  xiis  journey,  the  youth  engaged  in  the  study  of  theology  at 
Saumur;  whence  he  returned  to  England,  and  commenced  that  of 
the  law  at  Lincoln's  Inn.  Distinguished  by  purity  of  life  rather 
than  by  asceticism  of  manners,  he  made  a  figure  corresponding  with 
his  social  position;  was  esteemed  a  young  gentleman  of  fashion, 
skilled  in  courtly  and  even  martial  accomplishments. 

On  coming  of  age,  he  was  dispatched  by  his  father  to  Ireland,  to 


180 


AMERICA   ILLUSTKATED. 


take  charge  of  his  estates  there,  and  falling  in  -with  his  Quaker 
friend,  Loe,  at  a  meeting  in  Cork,  all  his  old  impressions  readily 
revived.  Imj)risoncd  for  attending  the  proscribed  aspemblics,  but 
finally  released  through  the  favour  of  the  lord-lieutenant,  he  returned 
home,  where  his  flither,  grieved  to  the  soul,  used  every  exertion  to 
change  his  persuasion.  Th'^  old  admiral,  who  now  probably  began 
to  respect  the  stull  his  son  was  made  of,  at  last  even  offered  to  com- 
promise matters  so  far  as  to  agree  that  William  might  wear  his  hat 
any  where  except  in  presence  ol  himself,  of  the  king,  and  the  king's 
brother — but  even  these  easy  terms  of  capitulation  were  refused,  and 
he  was  again  driven  from  the  paternal  roof 

He  now  became  openly  a  preacher  of  the  persecuted  sect,  which 
he  defended  in  several  publications — an  offence  for  which  he  was 
committed  to  the  Tower,  and  kept  close  prisoner  for  some  months. 
In  this,  as  well  as  his  other  difficulties  his  judges  seem  to  have  been 
entirely  at  a  loss  for  the  motives  which  could  induce  a  youth  of 
fortune  and  family  to  connect  himself  with  a  cause  so  ignominious 
from  the  poverty,  and  so  dangerous  from  the  persecution  which 
attended  it.  Discharged  from  prison,  he  returned  to  Ireland,  where 
he  busied  himself  in  comforting  his  imprisoned  brethren,  and  in 
procuring  their  release.  He  was  again  committed  for  public  preach- 
ing, his  trial  creating  no  little  excitement;  but  his  father  paid  the 
fine  which  the  young  Quaker,  from  motives  of  principle,  had  refused 
to  settle,  and  thus  procured  his  discharge.  A  complete  reconcilia- 
tion took  place,  the  brave  and  magnanimous  old  seaman  finally 
appreciating  the  traits  of  courage,  of  honour,  and  of  independence 
which  Ids  son  inherited,  though  displayed  in  a  field  of  action  so  dif- 
ferent from  his  own.  "Son  William,"  he  said  on  his  death-bed,  "if 
you  and  your  friends  keep  to  your  plain  way  of  living  and  preach- 
ing, \'ou  will  make  an  end  of  the  priests." 

By  th.e  death  of  his  father,  Penn  came  into  possession  of  an  estate 
of  fifteen  hundred  pounds  a  year,  and,  in  1(572,  was  married  to  a 
woman  in  every  way  worthy  of  him — one  distinguished  by  beauty, 
intelligence,  principle,  and  sweetness  of  temjier.  lie  continued  to 
preach  and  to  write  in  behalf  of  the  oppressed  sect  whose  cause  he 
had  e.«<pouscd;  and  the  productions  of  his  pen,  characterized  by 
•implicify,  eloqu  nee,  and  sound  argument,  laid  a  strong  hold  ou 
public  sentiment. 

Ili.s  first  actiuii  in  regard  to  nettlemcnts  in  the  New  World,  was 
in  107G,  when,  having  served  ns  arbitrato"  between  Byllinge  and 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


181 


Fen  wick,  be  became  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  former  proprietor  in 
Western  New  Jersey.  He  drew  up  a  plan  of  government  for  that 
province.  Eeligious  toleration,  trial  by  jury,  and  non-imprisonment 
for  debt,  were  its  main  constitutional  features.  In  the  following 
year,  large  numbers  of  Quakers  resorted  there  from  England,  and 
the  province  soon  became  a  favourite  refuge  for  that  oppressed  peo- 
ple. Penn,  whose  efforts  were  still  unwearied  in  behalf  of  his  suf- 
fering brethren,  continued,  with  all  his  energy,  to  defend  tlieir 
cause  at  home,  and  to  aid  them  in  their  emigration  to  the  land  of 
freedom  and  toleration. 


\j      (Ltl)       JuM      (L  w        JU      u>u  Ju       Ju  • 


PENN   OBTAINS   FROM   CHARLES   II.   THE   GRANT   OP   PENNSYL- 
VANIA:   HIS   ADMIRABLE   PROCLAMATION   TO   THE   SETTLERS: 
HE   REPAIRS   TO   AMERICA:    GAINS   POSSESSION   OF   DELA- 
WARE:   HONOURABLE   DEALINGS   WITH    THE   INDIANS: 
THEIR  ATTACHMENT  TO  HIM. — THE  GREAT    TREATY. 


Ills  designs  enlarged  by  successful  experience,  and  his  enterprise 
aiming  at  the  foundation  of  a  commonwealth  more  free  and  perfect 
tlian  any  the  world  had  yet  witnessed,  in  1680  Penn  made  applica- 
tion to  the  crown  for  a  share  of  the  American  territory  then  distri- 
buted by  Charles  II.  with  such  a  lavish  hand  among  ambitious  or  prof- 
ligate courtiers.  If  his  proscribed  opinions  were  calculated  to  retard 
his  suit,  his  personal  address  and  fortunate  circumstances  were  equally 
STiited  to  favour  it.  A  large  sum  of  money,  due  to  his  father  from 
the  government,  ho  offered  as  the  price  of  the  desired  grant.  In 
March,  1681,  a  strong  opposition  overcome,  he  obtained  from  the 
king  the  patent  of  a  vast  tract  of  territory,  containing  three  degrees 
of  latitude  and  five  of  longitude. 

In  naming  his  province,  his  modesty  prevented  any  o,llusion  to 
himself.  He  "suggested  Sylvania,  on  account  of  its  woods,  but  they 
would  still  add  Penn  to  it."  The  king,  it  is  said,  was  pleased  cspo 
cially  to  command  and  sanction  this  compliment.  The  vast  tracts 
of  Pennsylvania,  thus  appn)j)riatcly  titled,  he  was  to  hold  by  the 
payment  of  two  beaver-skins  yearly  to  the  crown,  and  one-fiflh  of 


182 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


any  precious  metals  discovered  there.  Very  extensive  powers  of 
government  were  conferred  on  him  personally;  powers  of  which  he 
never  availed  himself  for  purposes  of  selfish  profit;  and  which  he 
used  or  surrendered  only  to  further  the  establishment  of  complete 
freedom,  justice,  and  toleration  over  his  vast  domain.  The  more 
effectually  to  carry  out  his  extensive  scheme,  he  now  relinquished 
the  care  of  the  affairs  of  New  Jersey,  which  province,  under  his 
judicious  management,  had  continually  improved,  both  in  increase 
and  prosperity.  His  brief  and  admirable  proclamation  to  the  colo- 
nists (Swedes  and  others),  who  had  already  settled  in  the  limits  of 
his  grant,  cannot  be  too  highly  extolled  for  its  simplicity,  directness, 
and  honesty.  "J/y  Friends,^''  he  said,  "I  wish  you  all  happiness, 
here  and  hereafter.  These  are  to  lett  you  to  know,  that  it  hath  pleased 
God  in  his  Providence  to  cast  you  in  my  Lott  and  Care.  It  is  a 
business,  that,  though  I  never  undertook  before,  yet  God  has  given 
me  an  understanding  of  my  duty  and  an  honest  heart  to  do  it  up- 
rightly. I  hope  you  will  not  be  troubled  at  your  chainge  and  the 
king's  choice;  for  you  are  now  fixt,  at  the  mercy  of  no  Governour 
that  comes  to  make  his  fortune  great.  You  shall  be  governed  by 
laws  of  your  own  makeing,  and  live  a  free,  and,  if  you  will,  a  sober 
and  industreous  people.  I  shall  not  usurp  the  right  of  any,  nor 
oppress  his  person.  God  has  furnisht  me  with  a  better  resolution, 
and  has  given  me  his  grace  to  keep  it.  In  short,  whatever  sober 
and  free  men  can  reasonably  desire  for  the  security  and  improvement 
of  their  own  happiness,  I  shall  heartily  comply  with — I  beseech 
God  to  direct  you  in  the  way  of  righteousness,  and  therein  prosper 
vou  and  your  children  after  you.  I  am  your  true  friend,  Wm. 
Penn."    (April,  1G81.) 

Fresh  emigrants  were  speedily  forwarded  to  the  land  of  refuge; 
and  Penn,  willi  noble  self-denial  and  thought  for  the  common  good, 
rejected  a  great  oiler  made  to  him,  by  a  private  compan}',  for  a 
monopoly  (very  common  at  the  time)  of  Indian  traffic.  A  system 
of  government  was  devised,  to  be  submitted  to  the  approval  of  the 
settlers  themselves;  and  by  a  grant  procured  from  the  Duke  of 
York,  the  territory  of  the  present  state  of  Delaware  was  added  tc 
the  already  vast  domain  of  Pennsylvania.  With  many  of  his  friends 
and  neighbours,  of  the  proscribed  persuasion,  the  proprietor  set  sail 
for  America;  and  after  a  tedious  voyage  and  numerous  deaths  on 
board,  on  the  27th  of  October,  16&2,  arrived  at  Newcastle. 

The  next  day,  great  numbers  of  the  original  settlers — Swedea, 


■^.fE^jp^lijjvjiAft-^tiqigf^ 


THE   SETTLEMENT    OF   PENNSYLVANIA. 


•  183 


Dutch,  and  Englisli — assembled  at  that  town;  and  ceremonious  legal 
possession  of  Delaware  was  delivered  to  Penn  by  the  agent  of  the 
Duke  of  York.  Recommending  peace  and  sobriety  to  the  inhabit- 
ants, the  proprietor  journeyed  through  the  settlements  of  his  grant, 
and  visited  his  friends  in  the  neighbouring  provinces. 

With  a  conscientious  regard  to  the  rights  of  the  native  inhabit- 
ants, seldom  evinced  by  European  founders  of  colonies,  he  had 
made  strict  provision  in  the  articles  of  emigration  and  settlement 
for  the  protection  of  the  Indians  against  either  fraud  or  violence. 
The  goods  employed  in  traffic  with  them,  were  to  be  rigidly  exam- 
ined, to  test  their  quality,  "that  the  said  Indians  might  neither  be 
abused  nor  provoked ;"  and  any  difference  between  the  two  races 
was  to  be  decided  by  a  jury  of  twelve,  half  Indians  and  half  white 
men.  On  his  return  to  the  Delaware  (1683),  occurred  that  memor- 
able treaty,  the  delight  of  history,  the  favourite  theme  of  art,  and 
the  perpetual  honour  of  the  faith  and  truthfulness  of  both  the  par- 
ties concerned  in  it. 

With  a  few  of  his  Quaker  friends,  he  met  the  delegation,  itself 
numerous,  from  the  several  tribes  Avith  whom  the  new  settlers  were 
to  live  QS  neighbours,  or  to  mingle  in  traffic,  or  in  the  chase.  Be- 
neath a  spreading  elm  at  Shakamaxon,  hard  by  the  present  city  of 
Philadelphia — then  a  lonely  river  bank,  covered  with  pines — in  sim- 
ple .and  truthful  words,  he  addressed  the  assembled  Algonquins, 
impressing  the  advantages  of  just  and  loving  dealing,  and  of  constant 
peace  and  friendship.  "I  will  not  call  you  children,"  he  said,  "for 
parents  sometimes  chide  their  children  too  severely;  nor  brothers 
only ;  for  brothers  differ.  The  friendship  between  me  and  you  I 
will  not  compare  to  a  chain ;  for  that  the  rains  might  rust,  or  the 
falling  tree  inight  break.  We  are  the  same  as  if  one  man's  body 
were  to  be  divided  into  two  parts;  we  are  all  one  flesh  and  blood." 
In  reply,  the  chiefs  said,  "Wo  will  live  in  love  with  William  Penn 
and  his  children  as  long  as  the  sun  and  moon  shall  endure."  Pres- 
ents were  exchanged,  and  the  wampum-belts,  in  commemoration  of 
the  event,  were  given. 

No  oath  confirmed  this  siirtple  treaty,  made  in  the  free  forest,  by 
the  lonely  river,  beneath  the  arching  sky,  between  the  wild  trilies 
of  America  and  a  peoj)le  proscribed  in  civilized  Europe  as  the  ene- 
mies of  society.  No  deeds  were  signed,  no  record  of  the  compact, 
except  the  simple  wampum,  was  preserved.  But  it  was  never 
broken.      The   hands  of  tiio  savages   were   never   imbrued  with 


fotimaimtm 


184 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


Quaker  blood ;  and,  while  tljeir  descendants  inhabited  the  same  land, 
peace  and  good-will  ever  prevailed  between  them. 

"In  the  following  year,"  to  use  the  language  of  an  elegant  his- 
torian, "Penn  often  met  the  Indians  in  council  and  at  their  fes- 
tivals. He  visited  them  in  their  cabins,  shared  the  hospitable 
banquet  of  hominy  and  roasted  acorns,  and  laughed  and  frolicked, 
and  practised  athletic  games  with  the  light-hearted,  mirthful,  con- 
fiding red  men.  He  spoke  to  them  of  religion,  and  found  that  the 
tawny  skin  did  not  exclude  the  instinct  of  a  Deity.  'The  poor  sav- 
age people  believed  in  God  and  the  soul  without  the  aid  of  meta- 
physics.' He  touched  the  secret  springs  of  sympathy,  and  succeeding 
generations  on  the  Susquehannah  acknowledged  his  loveliness." 


\j     JLJb     wa>      Ji         ui       JhJ      Xu  Ju      lii      wu  • 

LIBERAL  LEGISLATION    OP    PENNSYLVANIA. — PENN   FOUNDS 
PHILADELPHIA:    ITS   RAPID   INCREASE.  —  FORMATION   OF   A 

CONSTITUTION.  —  GREAT  ElIIORATION  FROM  EUROPE. 

GROWTH  OP  THE   PROVINCE.  —  PENN    RETURNS 
TO  ENGLAND.  —  HIS  SUBSEQUENT  CAREER. 


A  POPULAR  convention,  assembled  at  Chester,  in  December,  1682, 
was  entrusted  with  the  settlement  of  the  government.  Under  the 
just  and  liberal  spirit  of  the  proscribed  society  of  Friends,  extraor- 
dinary improvemeits  in  legislation  appeared.  Primogeniture  was 
abolished,  and  equal  suffrage  was  secured  to  all  tax-payers.  No  tax 
could  be  levied  except  by  force  of  law.  Murder  alone,  at  a  time 
when  capital  offences,  on  the  English  statute-books,  were  almost 
without  number,  was  to  be  punished  by  death.  The  punishment 
for  other  offences  was  mild  and  reasonable.  The  original  settlers — • 
Swedes,  Finns,  and  Dutch — were  assured  of  the  same  rights  as  Kng- 
lii<hmen.  The  benevolent  proprietor,  rejoicing  in  his  success  in 
founding  a  free  community,  and  amply  repaid  for  his  sacrifices  and 
exertions  by  the  gratitude  of  his  jieople,  concluded  the  work  of 
legislation,  as  usual,  witli  words  of  religious  counsel  and  exhortatioa. 

In  the  first  months  of  1*583,  he  selected  for  the  site  of  his  capital 
that  admirable  location,  close  by  the  scene  of  his  treaty,  lying  be- 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


185 


twecn  the  Schuylkill  and  the  Delaware.  Here  he  laid  out  and  founded 
the  city  of  Philadelphia — a  city  which  sprung  into  existence  with 
a  rajiidity  and  prosperity  unprecedented  at  the  day,  and  almost 
rivalling  the  Aladdin-like  structures  in  our  western  regions,  which 
seem  the  growth  of  a  night — the  work  of  enchantment.  In  August 
of  that  year,  it  consisted  of  but  three  or  four  cottages.  Within  two 
years  it  contained  six  hundred  houses. 

Immediately  after  its  selection,  indeed,  (March,  1683)  a  convention 
was  assembled  there  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  constitution.*  By 
that  instrument  it  was  provided  that  a  council  and  assembly  should 
be  elected  by  the  people,  the  first  for  three  years,  and  the  latter  for 
one.  The  initiative  of  laws  was  reserved  to  the  governor  and  coun- 
cil, and  their  ratification  depended  on  the  assembly,  directly  repre- 
senting the  action  of  the  people.  The  governor  was  allowed  a 
negative  voice  on  the  action  of  the  council.  The  people  received  the 
charter,  so  unexpectedly  liberal,  with  gratitude  and  exultation;  but 
the  former  of  these  feelings,  always  short-lived  with  communities, 
was,  not  long  after,  merged  in  the  eager  desire  to  establish  a  still 
more  complete  form  of  democracy. 

AVhen  the  tidings  of  this  unexampled  generosity  and  tolerance  on 
the  part  of  the  proprietor  reached  Europe,  numbers,  especially  of 
the  persecuted,  from  the  British  isles,  from  Holland,  and  from  Ger- 
many, flocked  across  the  seas  to  share  in  the  blessings  provided  by 
the  forethought  and  magnanimity  of  a  single  man.  The  sudden 
growth  of  Philadelphia  has  been  mentioned.  That  of  the  whole 
province  was  on  a  corresponding  scale — outrivalling  even  the  rapid 
increase  of  New  England.  "  I  must,  without  vanity,  say,"  affirms 
Penn,  with  just  pride,  "I  have  led  the  greatest  colony  into  America 
that  ever  any  man  did  upon  a  private  credit,  and  the  most  prosper- 
ous beginnings  that  ever  were  in  it  are  to  be  found  among  us."  His 
humane  and  glorious  mission  in  the  New  World  accomplished,  the 
executive  power  entrusted  to  a  commission  of  the  council,  the  gen- 
erous founder  of  Pennsylvania  took  an  affecting  leave  of  the  people 
who  owed  him  60  deep  a  debt  of  gratitude.  Tender  remembrance 
and  pious  counsel  mingled  in  his  last  words.  "I  have  been  Avith 
you,"  he  said,  "cared  over  you,  and  served  you,  with  unfeigned 
love ;  and  you  are  beloved  of  me  and  dear  to  me  beyond  utterance. 
*  *  You  are  come  to  a  quiet  land,  and  liberty  and  authority 
are  in  j'our  own  hands.  Rule  for  Ilim  under  whom  the  princes  of  this 
world  will  one  day  esteem  it  an  honour  to  govern  in  their  places." 


I 


'ir> 


186 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


Eeturned  to  England,  (1684,)  Penn  employed  his  fortune,  Lis  influ- 
ence, his  eloquence,  in  behalf  of  the  oppressed.  Thanks  to  hia 
name,  his  successful  enterprise,  and  the  respect  which  high  integrity 
will  ever  command,  his  voice  at  court  was  potential.  At  his  inter- 
cession, many  hundreds  of  his  unfortunate  brethren  were  released 
from  the  prisons  in  which  they  had  been  so  long  immured.  The 
eagerness  of  the  new  sovereign  (James  11.)  to  secure  immunity  for 
his  fellow-communicants,  the  Catholics,  led  him  to  listen  favourably 
to  applications  in  behalf  of  other  dissenters  from  the  Establishment. 
Penn,  in  advance  of  all  who  sought  either  exclusive  supremacy  or 
mere  toleration  for  their  respective  creeds,  boldly  contended  for 
unlimited  freedom  of  conscience,  and  won  immortal  honour  by  the 
wisdom,  the  logic,  and  the  eloquence  with  which  his  writings  in 
behalf  of  that  grand  object  continually  abound. 

The  first  fruit  of  his  generous  concessions  to  the  colonists,  was 
the  display  of  a  rather  turbulent  spirit  of  freedom.  His  legislators, 
new  to  their  business,  soon  became  involved  in  quarrels  with  the 
executive,  and  evinced  much  jealousy  even  of  the  limited  share  of 
power  and  profit  which  the  single-minded  proprietor  had  reserved 
as  his  own.  "The  maker  of  the  first  Pennsylvania  almanac  was 
censured  for  publishing  Penn  as  a  lord.  The  assembly  originated 
bills  without  scruple ;  they  attempted  a  new  organization  of  the 
judiciary;  they  alarmed  the  merchants  by  their  lenity  towards 
debtors;  they  would  vote  no  taxes;  they  claimed  the  right  of  in- 
specting the  records,  and  displacing  the  oflicers  of  the  courts;  they 
expelled  a  member  ^vho  reminded  them  of  their  contravening  the 
provisions  of  their  charter."  These  tokens  of  ingratitude,  leading, 
indeed,  to  no  disastrous  results,  must  have  borne  somewhat  heavily 
on  the  heart  of  the  benefactor  of  the  province — that  benefactor,  who, 
having  expended  his  estate  in  delivering  the  oppressed  and  found- 
ing a  nation,  and  having  relinquished  in  favour  of  his  people  the  vast 
profits  which  avarice,  or  even  common  custom  might  have  grasped, 
found  himself,  in  old  age,  confined  for  debt  within  the  rules  of  the 
Fleet  prison.  But  a  steadfast  hope  and  a  serene  conscience,  the 
prompters  and  supporters  of  his  n-^blc  career,  were  equally  bis  con- 
solers under  its  unprosperous  personal  termination.  His  fame, 
emerging  from  the  clouds  of  envy  and  detraction,  shines,  century 
after  century,  with  a  purer  and  more  steady  ray.  His  memory 
will  ever  be  cherished  by  mankind  as  tho*  (t"  me  of  the  wi.sest, 
worthiest,  and  least  selfish  of  their  race. 


THE  lORTHEM  COLONIES, 

CONTINUED. 


SIR  EDMUND  ANDROS  COMMISSIONED  BY   THE  DUKE  OF  YORK:   BIS 
ATTEMPTS  TO  EXTEND  HIS  AUTHORITY  OVER  CONNECTICUT  — 
THOMAS    DONOAN. — UNION    OF    THE    COLONIES    UNDER  A 
EOYAL   OOYERNOR. — ANDROS  APPOINTED   GOVERNOR- 
GENERAL. — OPPRESSION  IN   THE  COLONIES. — PRO- 
CEEDINGS AGAINST  CONNECTICUT  AND  RHODE  ISLAND. 
— ANDROS'S  VISIT    TO  CONNECTICUT. — PRESER- 
VATION OF  THE  CHARTER.— THE  NORTHERN 
PROVINCES  FORCED  TO  SUBMISSION. — DOINGS 
IN  NEW  ENGLAND  UPON  THE  OCCURRENCE 
OF  THE  REVOLUTION  OF  1688. 

At  the  period  of  the  recession  to  England  of  the  territories  of  the 
New  Notlierlands,  after  a  brief  possession  by  the  Dutch,  in  1673-4, 
James,  Duke  of  York,  procured  a  new  royal  patent,  by  which  his 
former  riglits  of  proprietorship  were  secured  to  him,  with  enlarged 
governmental  powers.  lie  chose  a  fit  emissary  for  the  furtherance 
of  his  arbitrary  intentions  respecting  his  New  England  territory,  in 
the  person  of  Major  Edmund  Andros,  who  came  over  in  the  autumn 
of  167-i,  armed  with  nearly  absolute  authority,  and  entered  upon 
the  exercise  of  his  office  as  governor  at  New  York,  in  the  month  of 
October. 

The  people  of  Connecticut,  justly  proud  of  the  privileges  bestowed 
upon  them  in  the  charter  obtained  from  Charles  IL,  by  the  exertions 
of  Winthrop,  made  open  resistance  to  the  attempt  by  Andros  to 
extend  his  jurisdiction  over  their  territory  as  flvr  as  the  Connecticut 
river,  which  he  claimed  to  be  the  boundary  of  New  York.     The 


i 


188 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


patent  of  the  duke  certainly  covered  this  district,  and  extended 
eastward  as  far  as  the  Kennebec.  The  year  after  his  appointment, 
the  governor,  with  several  armed  vessels,  made  a  demonstration 
upon  the  fort  at  Saybrook,  but  such  was  the  aspect  of  determination 
on  the  part  of  the  colonial  militia,  and  such  the  tone  of  a  protest 
forwarded  by  the  assembly  then  in  session  at  Hartford,  that  he  judged 
it  prudent  to  withdraw. 

At  a  later  period,  after  the  accession  of  James  II.  to  the  throne  of 
England,  tlie  policy  of  uniting  the  New  England  colonies,  and  sub 
jceiing  them  to  the  sway  of  the  royal  governor,  was  more  energet 
icaWy  pursued.  Andros  was  superseded,  in  1683,  by  Colonel  Thomas 
Dongan,  a  man  of  more  enlarged  views,  and  generally  far  more 
aceeptiible  to  the  colonists  than  his  predecessor.  During  the  three 
years  of  this  administration,  the  principal  events  of  political  interest 
are  connected  with  the  history  of  that  powerful  aboriginal  confed- 
eracy, known  as  the  Six  Nations. 

Upon  the  demise  of  the  crown,  in  1685,  the  new  monarch,  with 
characteristic  tyranny  and  short-sightedness,  determined  on  push- 
ing forward  his  scheme  for  a  union  of  the  provinces.  The  charter 
of  Massachusetts  was  annulled  by  legal  process  in  the  English 
courts,  New  Hampshire  having  been  previously  separated  fsom  that 
colony,  and  constituted  a  royal  province,  in  opposition  to  the  wishes 
of  its  inhabitants.  "Writs  of  Quo  Warranto  were  also  issued  against 
the  authorities  of  Connecticut  and  Ehode  Island,  requiring  them  to 
appear  and  show  by  "\/hat  warrant"  they  exercised  powers  of  gov- 
ernment, Joseph  Dudley,  a  native  of  the  country,  was  temporarily 
placed  at  the  head  of  affairs  in  the  eastern  colonies,  but  was  sujier- 
sedcd  at  the  close  of  the  year  1686  by  Andros,  now  Sir  Edmund, 
who  came  out  as  Governor-General  of  New  England,  and  in  whom, 
assisted  by  a  royal  council,  were  vested  all  powers,  legislative  and 
expcutive.  He  brought  with  him  a  small  body  of  regular  troops, 
then,  for  the  first  time,  quartered  upon  the  New  England  colonies. 

Andros  is  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  undoubted  abilities  and  attain- 
ments; and  he  appears  to  have  possessed  a  spirit  of  military  {»ride 
which  led  him  to  respect  an  open  and  bold  opposition.  The  prin- 
cipal acts  of  tyranny  which  rendered  his  administration  unpojoular, 
were  in  direct  accordance  with  instructions  from  the  English  court. 
Power,  such  as  his,  can  safely  be  entrusted  with  no  man. 

Among  other  grievances,  the  liberty  of  the  press  was  aboli.slied, 
and  the  unpopular  Edward  Eandolph,  who  Lad  previously  been 


TUE   XOUTHEEX   COLONIES. 


189 


ar. 


sent  out  as  inspector  of  customs,  was  appointed  censor.  The  reli- 
gious privileges  and  prejudices  of  the  colonists  by  various  regu- 
lations were  invaded  or  outraged,  i  /lassachusetts,  marriages  were 
required  to  be  celebrated  by  a  clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
to  the  great  disgust  and  inconvenience  of  the  population.  Even  the 
Act  of  Toleration,  by  wt'ch  dissenters  in  general  were  freed  from 
former  disabilities,  was  looked  upon  with  suspicion,  as  being  but 
one  step  taken  by  a  GathoUc  monarch  towards  the  final  establish- 
ment of  his  own  church. 

An  assessment  of  taxes,  by  the  governor  and  council,  was  at  first 
met  by  a  general  refusal  and  resistance;  but  the  levy  was  enforced, 
and  obstinate  defaulters  were  punished  with  severity  by  fines  and 
imprisonment.  A  favourite  and  most  productive  method  of  extor- 
tion, was  the  impeachment  of  titles  to  lands  held  under  ihe  old 
grants  from  towns  or  from  the  general  assemblies,  and  ruinous  fees 
were  exacted  from  those  who  were  thus  compelled  to  procure  new 
patents  from  the  royal  officials. 

Legal  process  against  the  governments  of  Connecticut  and  Ehode 
Island  had  been  stayed  upon  the  transmission  of  memorials  to  the 
king,  which  had  been  construed  into  submission  to  the  royal  pleasure; 
but  the  charters  of  these  provinces  had  not  been  formally  surren- 
dered. In  January  of  1687,  Sir  Edmund  proceeded  in  person  to 
Rhode  Island,  and  put  an  end  to  the  existing  government,  lie 
destroyed  the  public  seal,  and,  without  material  opposition,  estab- 
lished the  royal  authority,  as  represented  by  himself  and  his  creatures. 

The  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  being  in  session  during  the 
month  of  October  following,  was  visited  by  the  governor-general, 
who  came,  with  an  armed  force,  to  compel  a  surrender  of  the  charter, 
and  to  dissolve  the  provincial  government.  The  treasured  docu- 
ment was  produced,  and  the  question  was  discussed  at  great  length. 
Night  came  on,  aiid,  us  i„  was  evideat  ihat  Andros  was  fully 
determined  to  enforce  his  claims,  a  plan  was  concerted  by  which  the 
instrument  that  had  assured  a  free  government  to  Connecticut  was  at 
least  preserved,  although  rendered,  for  the  time  being,  of  no  effect. 
The  lights  were  extinguished,  and,  in  the  darkness  and  confusion 
which  ensued.  Captain  TTadsworth,  of  Hartford,  seized  upon  the 
charter,  and,  making  his  way  out  of  the  assembly-room,  succeeded 
in  depositing  it  unseen  in  a  place  of  security,  viz:  the  hollow  of  a 
huge  oak.  This  tree  is  still  living,  and  forms  an  object  no  less 
interesting  from  its  antiquity,  (being  one  of  the  few  denizens  of  the 


i 


1 

1 


^m 


190 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


aboriginal  forest  now  standing  in  the  thickly-settled  portions  of  New 
England,)  and  from  the  great  size  of  its  gnarled  and  picturesque 
trunk,  than  from  its  association  with  the  incident  above  related. 
The  original  charter  is  still  preserved  at  the  secretary's  office,  in 
Hartford. 

Andros  met  with  no  further  opposition,  and  all  New  England, 
with  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  finally  submitted  to  his  dictation, 
lie  maintained  his  position  until  the  revolution  of  1688,  by  which 
William  and  Mary  gained  possession  of  the  throne  of  England.  An 
unprofitable  eastern  expedition  against  the  French  and  Indians, 
under  the  Baron  of  St.  Castine,  was  among  the  most  noticeable 
events  of  the  latter  portion  of  his  administration. 

Upon  receipt  of  the  first  definite  intelligence  of  the  revolution, 
the  people  of  Boston  rose  in  mass.  Andros,  his  Secretary  Ran- 
dolph, and  other  officials,  were  seized  and  thrown  into  prison.  The 
venerable  Simon  Bradstreet,  former  governor  cf  the  colony,  was  put 
at  the  head  of  a  provisional  government. 

The  whole  of  New  England  followed  the  example  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  were  reorganized  under 
their  violated  charters,  and  all  the  other  colonies,  in  resuming  their 
old  forms  of  government,  rejoiced  over  the  forced  abdication  of  the 
king,  and  the  establishment  of  a  Protestant  succession. 

Andros  was  sent  to  England,  and'  the  various  charges  agamst 
him  were  examined  by  William  i  ,d  his  council.  It  appeared,  how- 
ever, that  he  had  in  no  material  instance  exceeded  the  powers 
expressly  bestowed  upon  him,  and  the  complaints  were  dismissed. 
Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  received  the  royal  confirmation  of 
their  old  charters;  but  Massachusetts  was  less  fortunate,  having  made 
defence  in  the  proceedings  under  the  quo  warranto,  to  final  juda 
ment,  which,  it  was  decided,  could  only  be  reversed  on  writ  of  error 


~! 


THE   NOKTi       BN    COLi.    ,1£8. 


91 


Vj   tL(L    wun   iU      iM    Jj    iLo       tL    X  • 


RBW   YORK   SUBSEQUENT   TO    THE   RETOLUTION   OP    1S88  — AS- 
SUMPTION OF  AUTHORITY  BY  JACOB  LEISLER:   OPPOSITION  BT 
THE      COUNCIL.  —  INDIAN     INCURSIONS.  —  ARRIVAL     OP 

SLOUGHTER  AS   GOVERNOR. TRIAL  AND  EXECUTION  OP 

LEISLER  AND  MILBOURNE.  —  COLONEL  FLETCHER;    HIS 
FUTILE     ATTEMPT     TO     ENFORCE    AUTHORITY     IN 

CONNECTICUT. CHURCH   DIFFICULTIES.  —  BEL- 

LAMONT'S   PEACEABLE   ADMINISTRATION. — 
CAPTAIN    KIDD,    THE    PIRATE, 


In  New  York,  the  first  news  of  the  English  revolution  created 
great  confusion  and  terror.  Vague  reports  of  intended  outrages  on 
the  part  of  the  Catholics  excited  the  populace,  and  hastened  a  move- 
ment which  proved  fatal  to  its  leaders.  Jacob  Leisler,  a  captain  of 
militia,  and  a  Dutch  merchant  of  wealth  and  respectability,  was  pre- 
vailed upon  to  take  command  of  a  body  of  insurgents,  and  to  seize 
upon  the  fort.  The  lieutenant-governor.  Colonel  Francis  Nicholson, 
fled  the  country,  and  Leisler,  at  the  head  of  a  "committee  of  safety," 
assumed  the  administration  of  government,  in  opposition  to  the 
regular  municipal  authorities.  The  news  of  the  accession  of  William 
and  Mary  having  arrived,  he  made  public  proclamation  of  loyalty 
to  the  new  sovereigns,  and  dispatched  a  letter  to  them,  rendering  an 
account  of  his  proceedings,  with  a  detail  of  the  causes  which  had 
rendered  such  action  necessary  or  expedient.  In  the  month  of 
August.  Milbourne,  a  son-in-law  of  Leisler,  came  over  from  England, 
and  received  the  appointment  of  secretary  by  the  self-constituted 
government.  The  members  of  the  old  council,  having  retreated  to 
Albany,  there  proclaimed  their  intended  adherence  to  the  new  suc- 
cession, and  their  denunciation  of  the  rebellious  Leisler.  The  people 
of  Albany,  in  convention,  determined  to  await  a  direct  appointment 
by  the  crown,  and,  having  conferred  on  Major  Schuyler  the  com- 
mand of  the  fort,  refused  to  submit  to  the  requirements,  or  yield  to 
the  persuasions  of  Milbourne,  who,  with  a  force  of  fifty  men,  had 
come  to  demand  possession  in  the  name  of  his  superior. 

In  December  (1689)  came  out  a  royal  commission,  directed  to 
Nicholson,  "or  such  as,  for  the  time  being,  takes  care  for  preserving 
Vol.  IV,-41 


192 


AMERICA   ILLUSTKATED. 


the  peace,  and  administering  the  laws,"  &c.  Leisler  adopted  this 
as  his  own  warrant  for  the  exercise  of  the  powers  he  had  assumed. 
Insecure  in  his  position,  and  opposed  by  a  powerful  party,  the 
governor  was  unable — some  say  incompetent — to  make  necest;:  'v 
preparations  for  the  protection  of  the  northern  frontier.  "War  existed 
between  England  and  France,  and  parties  of  French  and  Indians, 
sent  out  by  Frontenac,  the  Canadian  governor,  ravaged  the  country. 
In  an  attack  upon  Schenectady,  some  sixty  of  the  inhabitants  were 
slain,  twenty-five  were  carried  into  captivity,  and  many  who  escaped 
suffered  every  extremity  from  exposure  during  their  flight  towards 
Albany.  An  expedition  against  Canada,  undertaken  by  New  York, 
Connecticut,  and  Massachusetts,  from  want  of  timely  cooperation 
between  the  different  parties,  proved  a  complete  failure. 

Leisler  succeeded  in  silencing  the  open  opposition  at  Albany, 
but  his  supremacy  was  destined  to  be  of  short  duration.  Henry 
Sloughtcr,  with  a  commission  from  the  crown,  came  out  as  gov- 
ernor in  March,  1691.  A  certain  Captain  Ingoldsby  had  landed  at 
New  York  with  troops  three  months  previous,  had  announced  this 
appointment,  and  claimed  possession  of  the  fort.  Leisler  refused  tc 
surrender  the  place,  and,  on  the  arrival  of  Sloughter,  by  order  of 
that  official,  was  arrested,  together  with  Milbourne,  and  several 
members  of  his  council. 

The  first  steps  taken  by  the  governor,  were  to  appoint  a  special 
court  for  the  trial  of  the  prisoners,  and  to  issue  warrants  for  an 
assembly,  or  council,  to  assist  him  in  the  administration.  The  result 
was  what  might  be  expected  from  the  character  of  Sloughter,  and 
the  arbitrary  nature  of  the  proceedings.  The  accused  were  convicted 
of  high-treason,  and  sentenced  to  death.  The  council  concurred 
with  the  sentence,  and  the  governor,  at  first  hesitating  to  push  mat- 
ters to  such  an  extremity,  finally  signed  the  death-warrants  of  Leisler 
and  Milbourne.  It  has  been  said  that  his  assent  was  obtained  dur- 
ing a  fit  of  intoxication.  The  victims  perishe(l  on  the  gallows,  in 
the  month  of  May  (1691).  They  met  their  fate  with  a  composure 
and  in  a  Christian  spirit  which  must  have  enlisted  general  sympathy. 
Their  heirs  afterwards  received  their  estates,  the  attainder  being 
reversed,  and  the  vain  ceremonial  of  funeral  honours  was  performed 
over  the  bodies  of  the  unfortunate  governor  and  his  secretary. 

Colonel  Fletcher  succeeded  Sloughter  in  1692,  the  latter  having 
flied  suddenly,  after  holding  office  about  four  months.  lie  was 
commissioned  by  the  crown  as  qommander  of  the  militia  of  New 


THE   NOBTHEBN    COLONIES. 


193 


g 


Jersey  and  Connecticut,  and  in  the  following  year  proceeded  to 
Hartford  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  his  military  claims.  The 
Connecticut  authorities  refused  to  submit  to  his  demands,  as  being 
opposed  to  privileges  secured  to  them  by  charter.  The  militia  com- 
panies were  assembled,  but  when  Fletcher  ordered  the  reading  of 
his  commission,  Captain  William  "Wadsworth,  the  principal  officer, 
caused  the  drums  to  be  beat,  and,  adding  to  this  violence  a  personal 
threat,  "that  he  would  make  daj^-light  shine  through  him,"  so  over- 
awed the  colonel,  that  he  desisted  from  the  attempt  to  take  command, 
and  the  next  day  set  out  for  New  York. 

Fletcher  held  oflSce  until  1698.  He  had  much  controversy  with 
thfe  assembly  respecting  laws  for  the  settlement  of  clergymen.  Fa- 
vouring the  English  Church,  he  was  greatly  exasperated  when  the 
house,  after  providing  for  the  appointment  of  ministers  to  be  elec+ed 
by  their  parishioners,  refused  to  add  an  amendment  by  whicl  oh'* 
sanction  of  the  governor  was  required  to  their  settlement.  lie  p'- 
rogued  the  assembly  forthwith,  accusing  the  members,  in  his  fa  .;- 
well  speech,  as  being  possessed  of  "a  stubborn  ill-temper." 

Lord  Bellamont,  who  succeeded  him  in  1698,  as  governor  of  u.  i 
northern  colonies,  (with  the  exception  of  Connecticut  and  T  ode 
Island,)  was  a  man  of  noble  and  generous  disposition,  and  through- 
out his  three  years'  administration  gave  general  satisfaction  to  the 
people.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  notorious  Captain  Kidd  ob- 
tained a  commission  from  the  crown  to  cruise  after  pirates,  with 
which  the  seas  were  infested.  lie  was  furnished  with  a  vessel  by 
Bellamont  and  others,  for  this  purpose,  it  being  supposed  that  great 
treasures  might  be  recovered  by  the  capture  of  these  outlaws,  and 
by  ferreting  out  their  places  of  retreat.  The  treachery  of  Kidd,  his 
subsequent  piratical  exploits,  his  audacious  appearance  in  public,  his 
capture,  and  execution,  mingled  with  many  fabulous  and  exaggerated- 
accounts  of  adventure,  have  ever  since  been  favourite  themes  for 
rude  nautical  songs  and  tales.  The  search  for  treasures  which  he 
was  supposed  to  have  buried,  has  been  continued  even  to  the 
present  day. 


194  AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 

Li    iLiL    i^oj    X      JL     tXJ    Juu       X    Jj    Ju  o 

KBW    C'HARTEll    OF    MASSACHUSETTS. — TRIALS    FOR    WITCH- 
CRAFT   IN   SALEM. FIRST    EXECUTION. FARRIS   AND   HIS 

FAMILY.  —  COURT   OF   EXAMINATION   AT   SALEM.  —  COTTON 
MATHER. — ARUIVAL     OF     PHIPPS. — NUMEROUS     EXE- 
CUTIONS.—  CONFE.SSIONS.  —  CRUELTIES    INFLICTED. 
— CHANGE    IN    PUBLIC    OPINION. 

Ix  ^fa-ssachusetts,  after  the  Revolution,  a  regular  government  was 
established  under  a  new  charter,  brought  out  by  Sir  William  Phipps, 
in  1692,  which  included  under  one  government  with  that  province 
the  colony  of  Plymouth,  and  the  partially  conquered  wilderness 
eastward  to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence. 

This  year  is  memorable  in  the  history  of  New  England,  as  the 
period  when  a  fatal  delusion,  a  superstitious  terror,  and  a  bloody 
fanaticism,  resulted  in  acts  which  reflected  an  indelible  disgrace  upon 
the  eastern  colonies.  We  cannot,  perhaps,  at  this  date,  arrive  at 
satisfactory  conclusions  respecting  the  reputed  witchcraft  at  Salem. 
Within  the  last  few  years  a  belief  in  manifestations  as  strange,  and 
as  apparently  supernatural  as  those  recorded  by  Mather  and  other 
early  historians,  has  been  steadily  gaining  ground:  it  numbers 
among  its  converts  men  of  every  condition,  and  of  every  variety  of 
intellectual  culture  and  endowment;  and  were  the  same  interpreta- 
tion, as  in  the  .seventeenth  century,  put  upon  the  experiments 
whereby  the  phenomena  are  developed  now,  and  were  the  same 
necessity  felt  for  literal  obedience  to  the  Hebrew  law,  scenes  more 
horrible  than  those  we  are  now  about  to  record,  would  be  renewed 
in  our  midst. 

We  cannot,  however,  give  the  actors  in  those  di.«!graccful  pro- 
ceedings credit  for  entire  honesty  and  sincerity.  Even  granting 
that  a  foundation  for  su.spicion  and  accusation  was  laid  by  the  occur- 
rence of  events  so  unaccountable,  that,  in  that  age,  reference  to  the 
devil  and  hi.s  faniiliars  as  their  originators  was  but  a  natural  ex- 
planation of  the  mystery,  we  can  discover  too  much  evidence  of 
private  malice,  of  duplicity,  and  misrepresentation,  to  allow  of  much 
room  for  charity  towards  those  who  took  an  active  part  in  the  per- 
Becutions,  or  those  who  endeavoured  to  justify  or  gloss  over 
their  crimes. 


TKE    NOKTIIERN    COLONIES. 


195 


pro- 
iting 
)ccur- 
o  the 
ex- 
ec of 
much 
2  per- 

over 


The  first  prosecutions  for  witchcraft  took  place  several  years  pre- 
vious to  the  time  of  which  we  are  now  speaking.  An  unfortunate 
old  Irish  woman,  named  Glover,  was  executed  as  a  witch  in  1688. 
Her  accusation  appears  to  have  resulted  from  personal  pique,  but 
she  was  a  Catholic,  she  spoke  indifferent  English,  and  her  broken 
answers  were  easily  interpreted  against  her. 

The  first  case  that  occurred  in  1692,  was  that  of  an  Indian  woman, 
named  Tituba,  a  servant  in  the  house  of  Samuel  Parris,  minister  of 
Salem.  A  daugliter  and  a  niece  of  the  latter,  of  the  ages  respect- 
ively of  about  nine  and  twelve,  became  afflicted  with  strange  con- 
vulsions, and  complained  of  pains  and  torments  uncxplainable  by 
the  faculty.  They  were  pronounced  bewitched,  and  Tituba  was 
flogged  by  her  master  into  a  confession  that  she  was  the  guilty  party. 
Without  undertaking  to  reoson  upon  the  cause  of  the  phenomena, 
to  what  extent  some  strange  sympathetic  mental  delusion  (such  as 
has  from  time  to  time  been  observed  in  all  ages),  may  have  pre- 
vailed, how  far  men  in  their  sober  senses  may  have  become  the 
dupes  of  artful  children,  or  what  really  nnaccountable  physical 
manifestations  may  have  taken  place,  we  can  only  give  the  facts  as 
they  actually  occurred. 

Accusations  multiplied  with  the  number  of  the  suf^posed  possessed 
or  afflicted  persons.  They  extended  from  the  poor  and  helpless  to 
those  of  good  standing  and  rcputatiouj  and  a  universal  ])anic  was 
excited,  which  finally  worked  its  own  cure.  Meantime,  a  special 
court  was  convened  at  Salem  (now  Danvers)  meeting-house,  in  the 
month  of  April,  and  the  trials  form.ally  commenced.  The  accusers 
were  personally  confronted  with  their  supposed  tormentors,  and 
added  to  their  former  declarations  what  appeared,  to  the  prejudioed 
and  excited  court,  direct  and  convincing  evidence. 

For  minute  accounts  of  the  proceedings  throughout  those  trials, 
as  well  as  for  experiments  carried  out  at  great  length  upon  the  pos- 
sessed, in  a  spirit  of  philosophical  inquiry,  see  the  writings  of  Cotton 
Mather.  He  ap[)ears  to  have  been  a  firm  believer  in  tlie  reality  of 
these  diabolical. manifestations,  but  such  was  his  dogmatic  obstinacy, 
and  his  excessive  self-esteem,  that  he  never  could  or  would  confess 
to  having  been  deceived.  In  reading  his  works,  while  we  lauiili  at 
his  absurdities,  we  cannot  restrain  feelings  of  the  strongest  indigna- 
tion at  his  cruelty,  bigotry,  and  intolerance.  As  a  historian,  he  is 
notoriously  fallacious,  but  wo  may  believe  that  he  saw,  or  thought 
ho  saw,  the  things  which  ho  describes  as  coming  umler  his  personal 


196 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


observation,  for  he  could  scarcely  appear  in  a  more  unamiable  light 
than  that  in  which  he  is  exhibited  upon  his  own  testimony. 

In  the  midst  of  the  excitement  (May  14th)  Governor  Phippa 
arrived,  and  assumed  his  office.  lie  entered  at  once  into  the  spirit 
of  persecution,  and  ordered  into  irons  the  unfortunates  with  whom 
the  jails  were  crowded. 

Several  sessions  of  the  special  court  were  held  during  the  summer, 
and  by  the  close  of  September  no  less  than  twenty  persons,  of  various 
ages  and  of  both  sexes,  had  perished  on  the  gallows  as  witches  or  ne- 
cromancers. Among  the  most  noted  of  these,  was  George  Burroughs, 
formerly  minister  at  Salem,  and  a  rival  of  his  successor,  the  infamous 
Parris.  Ilis  demeanour  on  the  scaffold  was  so  strongly  indicative  of 
innocence,  and  such  was  the  effect  produced  by  his  prayers  and 
dying  address,  that  it  is  said  that  the  execution  might  have  been  pre- 
vented by  the  spectators  if  Cotton  Mather  had  not  made  hia  way 
through  the  throng  on  horseback,  and  exerted  his  usual  influence 
over  the  people,  by  vituperation  against  the  victim  of  superstition. 
The  principal  point  made  against  Burroughs,  was  his  denial  of  the 
reality  of  the  supposed  witchcraft.  So  strong,  indeed,  was  the  pop- 
ular prejudice,  that  those  only  of  the  accused  could  hope  for  favour 
or  safety  who  were  willing  to  minister  to  it  by  confessions  and  self- 
accusations. 

The  wildest  absurdities  respecting  diabolical  witch-meetings  and 
incantations  thus  received  corroboration.  There  was  no  difficulty  in 
finding  evidence  against  those  who  refused  to  confess,  provided  they 
had  come,  from  any  cause,  to  be  in  bad  odour,  or  had  personal  enemies. 
The  trials,  as  far  as  any  form  of  law  or  rules  of  evidence  are  concerned, 
were  the  merest  mockery;  for  whatever  contradictions  in  testi- 
mony might  occur,  they  were  easily  explained  by  the  hypothesis 
that  this  was  only  an  attempt  by  the  devil  to  bewilder  the  witness 
by  taking  away  his  memory,  or  by  making  further  false  impressions. 
In  various  instances,  direct  and  cruel  bodily  torture  was  resorted  to, 
in  order  to  extort  confession.  One  old  mar  of  eighty  or  ninety, 
named  Giles  Cory,  refused  to  plead,  and  was  barbarously  pressed  to 
death,  being  subjected  to  the  ** p-iue  for!^  tt  clure,^^  as  provided  by  tho 
law  of  England.  We  must  recollect,  however,  in  passing  judgment 
upon  all  these  acta,  that,  provided  their  premises  wera  correct,  the 
early  colonists  only  carried  out  principles  universally  received,  and 
acted  upon  for  ages,  in  the  parent  country.  And  yet  there  are 
those  who  speak  of  the  degeneracy  of  modern  ti;.ics,  and  presume 


THE   NOETKEEN    COLONIES. 


197 


to  draw  comparisons  unfavourable  to  the  present  age,  between  tbe 
existing  Estate  of  public  morals  and  theology,  and  that  of  a  former 
generation. 

The  firtit  public  intimation  of  any  change  in  feeling  or  opinion 
respecting  the  Salem  murders  appears  in  a  remonstrance  sent  in  to 
the  general  court,  at  its  October  session,  by  the  minister  of  Andover 
and  his  parishioners.  The  special  court  was  then  and  there  abol- 
ished, and  the  interval  between  that  period  and  the  month  of  Janu- 
ary, (1693,)  when  the  regular  criminal  court  was  to  sit,  allowed 
time  for  reflection  on  the  part  of  the  excited  populace.  When  the 
new  cases  came  before  a  grand  jury,  twenty-six  indictments  (out  of 
fifty-six)  were  found  true  bills,  but  upon  trial,  there  were  but  three 
convictions.  Even  those  found  guilty  were  reprieved,  and  finally 
set  at  liberty. 

Mather  himself,  giving  his  own  ideas,  or  endorsing  those  of  an- 
other, confesses  that  the  matter  might  have  been  carried  too  far ;  for, 
he  says:  "at  last  it  was  evidently  seen  that  there  must  be  a  stop 
put,  or  the  generation  of  the  children  of  God  would  fall  under  that 
condemnation."  And  again:  "It  cannot  be  imagin'd  that  in  a 
place  of  so  much  knowledge,  so  niany,  in  so  small  a  compass  of 
land,  should  so  abominably  leap  into  the  devil's  lap  all  at  once." 


CHAPTER   I?. 

CO         OVERSY  COXCERNINO  REVENUE. — SUSPECTED  NEORO  REVOLT 
IN  NEW  YORK:    MOCK-TRIALS  OF  THE    ACCUSED;    llARRAROUS 
PUNISHMENTS.  —  CONNECTICUT:    THE    SAYBROOK  I'LATPORil. 
—  MASSACHUSETTS:  BURNING  OF  DEERFIELD:  DIFFICULTIES 
BETWEEN    THE   GOVERNORS    AND    ASSEMBLIES.  —  NEW 
HAMPSHIRE:   ATTACK  ON   COCHECOi   EASTERN    IN- 
DIAN   WAR. —  RHODE    ISLAND;    ITS   COMMERCIAL 

PROSPERITY. NEW    JERSEY:    OPPOSITION    TO 

ARBITRARY  TAXATION;    SCOTCH  IMMIGRA- 
TION:   PROSPERITY    OF   THE   COLONY:    ITS 
UNION    WITH     NEW    YORK. 


With  tlic  commonccmcnt  of  tlio  oightoenth  century  a  pcrics  of 
movements  and  conflicts  commenced  in  the  colonic.^,  the  tendency 


1 


198 


AMERICA.  ILLUSTEATED. 


of  whicli  was  directly  and  steadily  towards  the  establisliment  of  those 
principles  which  resulted  in  their  final  independence.  In  New  York, 
under  the  governments  of  the  reckless  and  profligate  Lord  Corn- 
bury,  of  Ilunter,  of  Cosby,  and  Clark,  vexed  questions  arose 
respecting  the  collection  and  application  of  the  colonial  revenues. 
The  public  monies  had  been  so  scandalously  appropriated  or  misap- 
plied by  Cornbury,  that,  under  his  successors,  care  was  taken  by  the 
assembly  to  secure  the  country  against  similar  loss  by  the  dishonesty 
or  incompetency  of  the  executive.  The  result  was  an  almost  con- 
stant altercation  between  the  house  and  the  governor's  council.  The 
attempt  by  the  latter  to  alter  or  amend  the  fiscal  provisions  of  the 
former  was  met  by  determined  resistance,  and  again  and  again  was 
the  assembly  dissolved  by  the  governor. 

During  the  administration  of  Clark,  who,  as  senior  member  of  the 
council,  took  the  office  of  lieutenant-governor  upon  the  death  of 
Crosby,  in  1736,  the  assembly  made  express  declaration,  in  an  address 
to  the  governor,  of  the  principles  by  which  their  legislation  should 
be  governed,  in  the  following  language:  ""We  therefore  beg  leave 
to  be  plain  with  your  honour,  and  hope  you  will  not  take  it  amiss 
when  we  tell  you,  that  you  are  not  to  expect  that  we  will  cither 
raise  sums  unfit  to  be  raised,  or  put  what  we  shall  raise  into  the 
power  of  a  governor  to  misapply,  if  we  can  prevent  it;  nor  shall  we 
make  up  any  other  deficiencies  than  what  we  conceive  are  fit  and 
just  to  be  paid;  nor  continue  what  support  or  revenue  we  shall 
raise,  for  any  longer  time  than  one  year"  (a  provision  for  securing 
an  annual  session  of  the  assembly);  "nor  do  we  think  it  convenient 
to  do  even  that,  until  such  laws  are  passed  as  we  conceive  necessary 
for  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony,"  &c. 

In  the  year  1741,  scenes  occurred  in  New  York  of  a  character 
strikingly  illustrative  of  the  truth,  that  the  extreme  of  cruelty  is 
generally  the  offspring  of  terror  and  cowardice.  A  number  of  lires 
took  ])lacc  at  short  interval.-:,  and  although  many  of  them  were 
plainly  attributable  to  accident,  suspicion  arose  that  a  plot  had 
been  formed  by  the  negroes,  of  whom  between  one  and  two  thousand 
were  there  held  as  slaves, -to  destroy  and  plunder  the  city.  Tiie 
testimony  of  two  infamous  informers,  given  in  the  one  instance  to 
secure  a  reward,  and  in  the  other,  to  escape  })unishmcnt  after  con- 
viction of  a  crime,  gave  form  and  directness  to  the  accusation.  As 
early  as  1712,  a  panic  somewhat  similar  had  resulted  in  the  death 
of  nineteen  victims  of  popular  rage  and  terror,  and  the  old  feeling 


ent  of  those 
New  York, 
Lord  Corn- 
tions  arose 
1  revenues, 
d  or  misap- 
iken  by  the 
dishonesty 
almost  con- 
ancil.  The 
lions  of  the 


again  was 


nber  of  the 
e  death  of 
1  an  address 
tion  should 
!  beg  leave 
,ke  it  amiss 
will  either 
36  into  the 
or  shall  we 
are  fit  and 
we  shall 
>r  securing 
convenient 
;  necessary 


ij^ 


<      sJ 


character 

cruelty  is 

3er  of  lires 

;hcm  were 

plot  had 

0  tliousand 

city.     The 

nstanco  to 

after  con- 

ition.     As 

the  death 

old  feeling 


I  f^y^/t"/^    /^///V/// 


i\ 


i  ■ 


,3. 


)  • 


oae 

1, 


iuij  «     ..  »■  ...   ;  i.LU  bTRA'i  1.  jj. 

fi(  ^  i    ■  ;    .t  .  ..si.i  steuclilv  towaids  the  establishmcBi . 

p'v    .        i  .  ., /.*t;tcd  in  their  final  iudependeucf.    JaKt>'.      .'rit, 

'     •      .      '  \.:'-j.u'\tnU  i-i    tlie  reckJcBs  aud  profligau:  Lord     ->.-n- 

■  .i.ti.r,    of  '  ifrb}',    and   Clark,    vexed   questions   ..r^sne 

•  v;  .  .  lUe  i-fiUccUoh  uad  JippJicaion  of  the  colonial  revenues. 
1  ,-.  i-.  jijifs  uwd  been  so  h<.uiiJalouply  appropriated  or  niisap- 
-^  i  t,v  Con;ij'.;r},  uuat,  under  \ni>  Ba<-ocssorg,  care  was  takei;  Iv  tiio 

■  •*-'x.,.!)i^-  U-'  f-':o-ii  ibe  country  ai^jtinst  similai'  loss  by  the  dis.-r,  .'jcsiy 
.  .ncoi:j|>'.  uii  y-  of  the  oxoeutivo.  The  r^v-^a.t  was  lui  ahn<j*-.t  <,oa- 
T-ji'i  a-'t«;v  J.un  between  the  house  and  the  governor's  count;!..  The 
aitemi  ■  •;  the  latter  to  alter  w  auiead  the,ljsc'al  provit.ion:>  of  the 
furrncr  w.if.  met  by  determined  rcsiaUnce,  anfl  again  and  a;<aju  "waa 
the  as*  inbly  disw/ind  by  tht  gjvtfrnOTy^       ';jt\ 

Purii  .   !*.e  ad.:i  .u'.'atv'-t  oi  Qli\iiC,  who,  JUS  senior  --jmbor  of  the 
i^iijucii.  ;> 
Crosby.  ,• 

♦  ']i>X  1.''  V 


->*  '.i»r 


ibe       •  •'    ■  !  /■<gcxaar  ■^t-:mveYnor  upon  tl'.e  death  of 
•;._.«»v.  .  '    •.'R'ltlfHiLrri.ition,  in  an  i^iidress 
'   !  NftR  ic.e;itiIatioji  sh'»uld 
^  .:       *  -iiefratbre  beg  h'ave 

."w.-i.^  t  take  )t  aiuisa 

s  ^,,.nt  -^^  *«  will  ci»ber 
-(»-'*t*dt '■>«■  putvfiiat  w  .«i.^,  -.i.K  ■  •  lie 
4^^v,  ■".'((?  oa^pr«: Vint  it^  ,,>•  t.,:Ui  we 
\*iWfl(Jf-*,  <A#**.-«'|pfr  A  o  uoeivo  are  i'.t.  ard 
j-i.st  to  l>.'.  J'.^  *  ■  Q.  ..,nil,|»tt-  ■♦'^.^it  »?;.;'  t  -v  r-  ■  !•  '(•vi  shuli 
raise,  for  ajiy  longer  time  (HiaiMMiO  year"  i  y.v.  >*•  .  .^-  .irin^ 
an  annual  session  of  the  assembly) ;  "nor  um  we  luii.k  ii  coi.vunicut 
V-  do  evin  that,  until  suoh  laws  are  [):LSsed  a.s  we  conceive  ncc'ssary 
fur  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony, "  <Scc. 

In  the  yei.r  1711,  iw-nn  fuwurrod  )•    New  Y-    k  of  a  character 

N'f  fcisnfT'y  sl'ustrativo  'f  Ibv;  frutb,  i.iu''*  tiie  i>xtrcnio  of  cnicltv'ia 

• »    T  :li'   offriprin;^  '.fU'ioi  »)i.  1  rowtirdiee.     A  number  of  firea 

'•   'An'ti     !'vr\:i.. ,  a"  d   although  many  of  tiicm  wore 

V  ,  ,.i.:ni,  sii'jpici'.Mi   arose  tli.".t  a  iilot  had 

r  ;..   .1  wiiorii  between  on<' and  two  tiioi.sund 

e.ti-  ..  l>>  destroy  and  plunder  tho  city.     Thj 

\ifi'"  :•*  mformers,  given  in  tln^  one  instaneo  lo 

■  ,.\  iiii<  otber,  to  cscjtpo  piiniahineut  after  con- 

.     :  iin  and  directness  to  the.  ucousation.     At? 

•4«*(K»\«^  ViQiilar  iiad  retiiUted  in  tlio  tle^th 

•pillar  rage  ajid  terror,  imd  the  old  Ie%'Un^ 


.:h-' 


w  -rre     ' 
tci'iinion^ 
secure  a  itv* 
^Ietion  of  a  c 
early  us  ITIJ,  a 
of  uinet".!i  Vi  •: 


»< 


I  ■ 


JJ 


^ 


oae 


rk. 


Lord  -  .n- 
stions  o.'vifw 
al  rtveuu*^. 
c;d  or  niisap- 
Uikeri  I  y  tho 
c  ^lis;v,fj«.-sty 

alifujfil  i.on- 
junc:;.  Tlie 
*ioris  vi  the 

:mbor  of  the 
'.e  death  of 
n  ai,  ;..ulres3 
itioii  should 
e  beg  h>ave 
akfc  )t  aiiiisa 
(  will  ci'her 

^  '  i..e 

.-iiu  we 

u'-k.  :^t.  ar.d 
'<'.  sh.di 

vi.nnjiit 
c  ncc'ssnry 

■.i:ar;ictcr 
f  ortii.it ,'  is 
hi'T  of  tires 
them  wore 
ot  had 
.-'  iuo;.-iund 
my.  Thu 
i.st.uico  to 

alter  con- 
ation.    As 

tho  drath 

old  fe'JiU^ 


:  1 


F44;.  bv  I.,r  H.nn.u.  fren.  a  Deno.  sketch  b/  ''c*  Tt'imVull  in  th»  poisesston  at"  B-SvlViln»n.Jr 


',   ',  i.;:v,   [  V  i^    ,,;i,  i  ;  -'^ 


^^  i' 


\  jrr^tc     \P/(.///^/^// 


JJ 


THE   NOETHEEN    COLONIES, 


199 


was  now  revived  with  tenfold  virulence.  A  great  number  of  arrests 
were  speedily  made,  and  when  the  trials  came  on,  so  strong  was 
the  public  prejudice  that,  of  the  eight  lawyers  who  then  constituted 
the  entire  legal  fraternity  of  the  city,  none  would  lend  his  services 
in  the  r'  .uce  of  a  prisoner.  "All  assisted  by  turns  on  behalf  of 
the  prosecutions.  The  prisoners,  who  had  no  counsel,  were  tried 
and  convicted  upon  most  insufficient  evidence.  The  lawyers  vied 
with  each  other  in  heaping  all  sorts  of  flbuse  on  their  heads,  and 
Chief-Justice  Delancey,  in  passing  sentence,  vied  with  the  lawyers. 
Many  confessed,  to  save  their  lives,  and  then  accused  others.  Thir- 
teen unhappy  convicts  were  burned  at  the  stake,  eighteen  were 
hanged,  and  seventy-one  transported."* 

Two  of  the  victims  were  white  men ;  the  others  were  partly  slaves 
and  partly  free  blacks.  One  of  the  whites  appears  to  have  been 
condemned  rather  from  the  circumstance  that  he  was  a  Catholic, 
and,  as  such,  obnoxious  to  popular  prejudice,  than  from  any  respect- 
able evidence  of  guilt.  There  is  no  probability  that  any  plot  had 
been  formed,  although  some  of  those  who  received  punishment  may 
have  been  guilty  of  incendiarism. 

The  histor}'  of  Connecticut,  during  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  presents  little  of  historical  importance,  except  its  connec- 
tion with  the  other  provinces  in  military  operations,  elsewhere 
briefly  described.  The  most  important  local  measure  of  the  period 
was  the  establishment  of  "the  Sa^-brook  Platform,"  by  an  eccle- 
siastical convention,  called  in  1708,  by  a  legislative  act.  "At  a 
subsequent  session  of  the  legislature,  it  was  enacted  that  all  the 
churches  united  according  to  the  Platform,  should  be  owned  as 
established  by  law,  allowing,  however,  to  other  churches  the  right 
of  exercising  worship  and  discipline  in  their  own  way,  according  to 
their  consciences."f 

In  the  frontier  war  with  the  French  and  Indians,  which  lingered 
through  the  latter  portion  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  after  a 
short  interval  of  peace,  broke  out  again  in  1704,  the  border  towns 
of  Massachusetts  sufiercd  severely.  In  February  of  the  latter  year, 
a  party  of  three  hundred  French  and  Indians,  the  former  under 
command  of  Ilertel  de  Kouvillc,  attacked  the  town  of  Deerfield  in 
the  night..  The  place  had  been  partially  protected  by  palisades,  and 
about  twenty  soldiers  were  quartered  there,  but  these  had  been 

*  Ilildrelh's  History  of  the  United  States, 
f  Hale's  History  of  the  United  States. 


200 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


grossly  negligent  in  not  mounting  guard,  and  the  surprise  was  com- 
plete. The  popular  narrative  of  Mr.  Williams,  the  minister,  gives 
a  vivid  description  of  the  calamity.  "Not  long  before  the  break  of 
day,"  he  says,  "  the  enemy  came  in  like  a  flood  upon  us,  pur  Avatch 
being  unfaithful."  The  inhabitants  made  what  resistance  they  could, 
but  such  was  the  suddenness  of  the  assault,  and  the  superiority  of 
the  enemy's  force,  that  the  strife  was  soon  at  an  end.  The  town 
was  burned ;  forty-seven  oltits  defenders  perished  on  the  spot;  and  a 
great  number  of  prisoners — men,  women,  and  children — were  marched 
olF  through  a  deep  snow  towards  Canada — "nineteen  of  whom," 
says  the  narrator,  "were  afterwards  murdered  by  the  way,  and  two 
starved  to  death  near  Coos,  in  a  time  of  great  scarcity  or  ilimine 
the  Indians  underwent  there."  Mrs.  Williams  was  among  the  vic- 
tims on  the  route.  Those  who  finally  reached  their  place  of  destina- 
tion, were  kept  prisoners  for  several  years.  Fifty-.seven  of  them 
were  sent  back  to  Boston  in  ITOfi, 

The  operations  against  Canada,  in  which  the  New  England  colo- 
nies were  jointly  engaged,  during  the  few  years  succeeding  this 
period,  have  already  been  described  in  the  history  of  the  French 
Canadian  settlements.  The  long-continued  war  had  greatly  checked 
the  growth  of  the  exposed  colonics,  and,  at  the  conclusion  of  peace 
in  1713,  Massachusetts  was  left  burdened  with  a  heavy  debt. 

For  many  years  thereafter,  the  general  assembly  of  this  colony 
was  in  continual  controversy  with  a  succession  of  royal  governors 
respecting  the  establishment  of  a  fixed  salary,  which  should  render 
the  position  of  the  latter  more  independent.  The  demand  for  this 
measure  was  firmly  refused,  and  it  was  finally  settled  that  the  gov- 
ernor should  be  paid  only  by  an  annual  appropriation. 

For  the  important  colonial  expedition  against  Canada  in  17-15, 
aud  the  fall  of  Louisburg,  see  the  articles  upon  Acadia,  the  settle- 
ment and  history  of  Canada,  &c.,  under  the  title  of  the  French  in 
America. 

We  find  little  of  public  interest  to  record  of  the  sparsely  populated 
colony  of  New  Hampshire  from  the  time  of  its  separation  from  ^Fas- 
sachusetts,  at  the  close  of  Andros'  administration,  up  to  the  events 
which  immediately  preceded  the  American  revolution.  Many 
strange  tales  are  told  of  incidents  connected  with  the  Indian  wars, 
the  frontier  position  of  the  colony  rendering  it  peculiarly  liable  to 
hostile  incursion.  Among  these  is  the  account  given  of  the  attack 
upon  Coclieco,  or  Dover,  in  1G89.     One  Major  Waldron  had  com 


TUE   NORTUEKN    COLONIES. 


201 


mand  of  a  garrison  sufficient  to  protect  tbe  post,  if  due  care  had  been 
taken  to  guard  against  surprise. 

The  enemy  were  let  in,  in  the  night,  by  two  squaws  who  had 
obtained  permission  to  sleep  in  the  fortified  houses.  "  The  English 
were  completely  overpowered,  fifty-two  were  killed  or  carried  away 
captive;  among  the  former  was  Major  Waldron,  The  old  warrior 
(he  was  eighty  years  of  age)  defended  himself  with  astonishing 
strength  and  courage,  but  was  finally  struck  down  from  behind. 
Bruised  and  mangled,  he  was  placed  in  a  chair  upon  a  table,  and 
the  savages,  gathering  round,  glutted  their  long-cherished  vengeance 
by  cutting  and  torturing  the  helpless  captive.  He  was  in  bad  odour 
with  the  Indians  for  having,  as  they  alleged,  defrauded  them  in  for- 
mer trading  transactions.  It  was  reported  among  them  that  he  used 
to  '  count  his  fist  as  weighing  a  pound,  also  that  his  accounts  were 
not  crossed  out  according  to  agreement.'  Placed,  as  above-mentioned, 
upon  a  table,  some  of  them  '  in  turns  gashed  his  naked  breast,  say- 
ing, I  cross  out  my  account.  Then,  cutting  a  joint  from  his  finger, 
would  say:  will  your  fist  weigh  a  pound  now?'  They  continued 
these  cruelties  until  he  fainted  from  loss  of  blood,  when  they  dis- 
patched him."* 

The  expeditions  of  this  period  against  the  eastern  Indians  and 
French,  are  described  in  the  quaint  narrative  of  Colonel  Benjamin 
Church,  who  closed  his  military  career  in  these  services.  In  the  three 
years'  Indian  war,  which  broke  out  in  1722,  the  settlements  in  New 
Hampshire  were  constantly  endangered,  and  on  many  occasions 
suffered  severely  from  savage  depredations.  Of  all  the  events  of 
the  war,  none  was  more  celebrated  in  its  time,  than  the  expedition 
under  Captain  John  Lovewell,  and  the  fight  at  Pigwackct,  on  the 
Saco,  in  which  he  and  more  than  half  his  companions  perished. 

The  colony  of  Rhode  Island,  under  the  charter  of  1663,  resumed" 
upon  the  deposition  of  Andros,  continued  to  prosper.  Its  position 
secured  it  against  danger  from  Indian  invasion,  and  its  excellent 
harbours  gave  opportunity  to  the  enterprising  population  for  exten- 
sive commercial  operations.  A  large  back  country  was  supplied 
with  foreign  goods  from  Newport.  It  is  even  said  to  have  been  a 
matter  of  serious  question,  in  early  times,  whether  New  York  could 
ever  compete  with  this  prosperous  sea-port;  so  true  it  is  that  a 
stimulus  to  enterprise  and  exertion  is  far  more  important  to  the 
welfare  of  a  country  than  the  greatest  natural  advantages.     The 

•  Indian  Races  in  America. 


202 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


rugged  soil  of  New  England  has  nourished  a  race,  the  field  of  whose 
exertions  is  boundless:  the  inhabitants  of  the  barren  island  of  Nan 
tucket  have  been,  so  to  speak,  driven  to  employ  their  energies  in 
enterprise,  than  which  none  has  proved  more  permanently  profitable. 

New  Jersey  was  among  the  foremost  and  most  earnest  of  the 
northern  colonies,  in  resistance  to  arbitrary  power  on  the  part  of 
her  governors.  The  imposition  of  a  duty,  and  the  levy  of  a  tax  by 
Andros,  when  he  was  first  commissioned  by  the  Duke  of  York,  was 
the  occasion  of  a  remonstrance,  in  which  the  standing  claim,  that 
taxes  should  not  be  imposed  without  the  people's  assent,  was 
strongly  and  successfully  urged. 

Under  the  management  of  Penn  and  his  associates,  a  new  impetus 
was  given  to  the  prosperity  of  the  colony  by  the  immigration  of  a 
vast  number  of  the  persecuted  Presbyterians  from  Scotland.  They 
formed  a  sober  and  industrious  population,  well  fitted  to  mingle 
upon  terms  of  sympathy  and  brotherhood  with  the  Quaker  inhabit- 
ants and  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans,  by  whom  the  country 
was  peopled.  Glowing  accounts  are  given  of  the  rapidity  with  which 
the  lands  were  brought  under  cultivation,  of  the  efficient  means 
which  were  taken  to  secure  the  blessings  of  free  education,  and  of 
the  general  thrift  and  prosperity  of  the  colony. 

New  Jersey,  together  with  New  York  and  the  New  England  colo- 
nies, was  brought  under  the  domination  of  Sir  Edmund  Andros  in 
1688.  For  many  years  after  the  revolution  of  that  date,  its  affairs 
remained  in  an  unsettled  state;  but  in  1702.  a  surrender  of  their 
legislative  powers  by  the  proprietors,  resulted  in  the  temporary 
union  of  the  province  with  New  York,  then  under  the  government 
of  Cornbury. 

Gov.  S.vr.TOXSTATX. — This  fippcara  to  be  t'no  proper  place  to  jrivc  ssomo  acrcmnt  of  a 
innn  who  wielded,  for  many  years,  an  influence  in  the  colony  equaled  only  l>y  that  of  our 
first  Winthrop,  flnidon  Salton.stall  wa,s  bom  at  Haverhill.  Ma.=saeluisetts.  in  ir.Cfi,  juid 
graduated  at  Harvard  in  1084.  He  was  ordained  at  Now  London,  on  the  25lli  of 
Nnveinlif'r,  1001.  His  reputation  ro.iu  .«pread  throufrh  the  eoluny,  and  his  influence  over 
the  t'leriry  finally  became  .almost  .".iisolute.  They  ajiiicared  ti>  retrard  him  with  sentiments 
akin  to  idolatry.  The  structure  of  jiis  mind  and  character  w.is  such  as  UmI  him  inc'vitably 
(i)  cliiijr  t(t  strict  ceck'siasfical  (lisci|i!ine.  and,  fcelinf.'  few  o(  the  infirmities  of  our  nature, 
he  had  little  patience  with  the  limits  of  others.  His  pevi.nal  njipearaneo.  a.s  has  been 
helore  reniiU'ked,  wa.s  so  strikinii'  .and  iniposintr  that  the  l^-ui  of  Bellamimt  retrarded  iiim 
as  better  representinj^  the  Knirli.sh  nolileniaii  than  any  othir  i^'entloman  whom  lie  had  .seen 
in  America.  He  was  more  inclined  to  syneils  ami  fortnul.is  than  any  other  minister  of 
th.it  day  in  the  New  Kmrland  colonies.  The  Saybrook  ]iIatfonn  was  stamped  with  hi.s 
seal,  and  was  for  the  most  jjart  an  embodimtnt  if  hi.s  views.  In  an  epi.scopal  country  ho 
woiild  have  made  a  bi.shop,  in  whose  jiresenco  the  lesser  li^dits  would  scarcely  have  been 
seen  to  twinkle. 

On  the  de.'ith  of  Gov.  Fitz  John  'Winthrop,  in  1707.  he  was  chos'-n  povemor  of  the 
colony,  and  contiinied  in  olliec  until  his  lU'.ilh,  which  took  place  on  the  20th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1721:. — llolUsttr's  History  of  Connecticut. 


THE  SOUTHEKN  COLONIES, 


CONTINUED. 


CHAPTEH   I. 


CHAKTER  OP   THE  COLONY   OF  GEORGIA. — FIRST  ARRIVAL  OP 
COLONISTS. — SETTLEMENT   OF  SAVANNAH. — INDIAN   NEGO- 
TIATIONS.—  MART     MCSGROVE. CESSION    OF    INDIAN 

CLAIMS. CHARACTER  OF  IMMIGRANTS  TO  GEORGIA. 

TRAFFIC  IX  NEGROES  PROHIBITED.  —  FRED- 
ERICA   POUNDED.  —  WAR   WITH  SPAIN. 

As  late  03  the  year  1732,  when  plans  for  the  settlement  of  the  coun- 
try includeil  between  the  Savannah  and  Altamaha  rivers  were  first 
actively  undertaken,  the  whole  district,  together  with  the  adjoining 
territory,  now  included  in  the  state  of  Georgia,  remained  untenanted, 
except  by  savages,  and  a  debatable  ground  between  the  English 
colonies  and  those  of  Spain.  In  the  month  of  June,  in  the  year 
above-mentioned,  James  Oglethorpe,  with  twenty  associates,  in  Eng- 
land, obtained  a  charter  from  George  II.,  for  the  foundation  of  a 
colony  in  this  unoccupietl  region— the  special  object  of  the  grantees 
being  to  provide  an  asylum  for  poor  and  imprisoned  debtors,  for  the 
subjects  of  religious  pereecutions,  and  for  all  standing  in  need  of 
charity,  who  might,  by  removal  to  a  new  country,  be  rendered 
eventually  self-dependent,  useful,  and  prosperous. 

The  leader  in  this  enterpriaie  was  a  soldier  and  a  scholar,  and, 
although  yet  a  young  man,  was  possessed  of  experience  in  public 
life,  and  maturity  of  judgment,  which  well  qualified  him  for  his 
responsible  undertaking.  He  had  been  for  several  years  engaged  in 
efffrts  for  the  amelioration  of  the  condition  of  the  multitudes  con- 
fined for  debt,  in  Great  Britain,  and  his  exertions  had  awakened 
much  attention  among  the  benevolent  and  philanthropic.  He  met 
with  a  ready  response  to  his  call  for  funds  to  aid  in  the  transporta- 
tion and  establishment  of  the  members  of  his  new  colony. 


204 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


Oglethorpe  sailed  for  America  in  November,  1732,  with  one 
hundred  and  thirteen  emigrants.  He  first  landed  at  Charleston, 
i^'here  provisions  were  provided  by  the  inhabitants  for  the  present 
support  of  the  voyagers,  and  boats  for  their  conveyance  to  their 
new  homes. 

The  site  occupied  by  the  present  city  of  Savannah,  on  Yamacraw 
Bluff,  was  fixed  upon  for  the  first  settlement.  Elevated  above  the 
surrounding  level,  a  few  miles  from  the  entrance  of  the  river,  this 
position  commands  a  beautiful  and  extensive  view  in  the  direction 
of  the  sea.  A  tribe  of  the  Muscogees,  or  Lower  Creeks,  dwelt  in 
the  vicinity.  These  "were  peaceably  disposed  towards  the  white 
settlers,  but  the  governor  of  the  infant  colony  thought  it  advisable 
to  put  himself  upon  safe  ground  as  regarded  the  Indian  claims. 
lie  therefore  secured  the  services  of  a  half  breed  woman,  named 
^fary  Musgrove,  who  could  speak  English,  and,  by  her  mediation, 
brought  about  a  conference  with  the  chiefs  of  the  tribe. 

Mary  had  formerly  married  a  white  trader  from  Carolina.  Be- 
sides her  usefulness  as  an  interpreter,  she  had  such  influence  over 
her  tribe,  that  Oglethorpe  thought  it  worth  his  while  to  purchase 
her  services  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  pounds  a  year.  She  be- 
came, afterwards,  a  source  of  no  little  danger  and  annoyance  to  the 
English. 

Fifty  chiefs  of  the  Creek  nation  were  assembled  at  the  place  of 
conference,  and  Tomochichi,  the  most  noted  among  those  then 
known  to  the  settlers,  made  an  amicable  speech,  proffering,  at  the 
same  time,  a  present  of  a  buffalo-skin,  adorned  with  eagles'  feathers."* 
By  the  terms  of  the  treaty,  the  king  of  England  was  acknowledged 
by  the  Indians  as  their  sovereign,  and  provisions  were  made  for  the 
preservation  of  peace  and  quiet  between  them  and  the  settlers. 

"The  lands  lying  between  the  Savannah  and  Altamaha  were 
made  over  to  the  English,  with  all  the  islands  on  ihat  coast,  except 
St.  Catharine's  and  two  others,  which  were  reserved  for  the  use  of 
the  Indians  as  bathing  and  fishing  stations.  A  tract  was  also  set 
apart  for  the  latter  to  encamp  ujion  when  they  visited  their  white 
friend.**,  a  little  above  tlie  Yamacraw  Bluff." 

The  liberal  offers  of  the  patrons  and  proprietors  of  the  new  col- 
ony of  Georgia — religious  freedom,  (to  the  exclusion,  however,  of 
Papists,)  personal  security,  free  grants  of  land,  free  passage,  and  a 
temporary  supply  of   provi.'»ion — proved    strong    inducements  to 

•  Indian  Riices  of  Anierk-a. 


THE   80UTHEKN   COLONIES. 


205 


immigration.  Not  only  the  poor  outcasts  who  had  gladly  availed 
themselves  of  the  assistance  of  the  charitable,  thronged  to  the  settle- 
ment, but  a  thrifty  and  industrious  population  poured  in  from 
Scotland,  Switzerland,  and  Germany.  A  considerable  body  of 
Moravians,  from  the  latter  country,  arrived  in  March,  1734,  and 
with  the  assistance  cordially  proffered  by  Oglethorpe,  commenced  a 
settlement  at  the  mouth  of  Ebenezer  creek,  which  empties  into  the 
Savannah,  a  considerable  distance  above  the  caj)ital.  The  Scotch, 
who  arrived  in  the  following  year,  settled  at  Darien,  called  by  them 
New  Inverness. 

In  Februar}',  1736,  the  governor,  returning  from  England,  whither 
he  hal  voyaged  to  procure  contributions  and  recruits  tor  his  colony, 
brought  with  him  about  three  hundred  immigrants.  A  portion 
of  these  were  Moravians,  and  among  them  was  the  celebrated  John 
Wesley,  who  came  out  fired  with  religious  zeal  for  the  conversion 
of  the  Indians. 

A  general  sjjirit  of  good-will,  peace,  and  content,  seemed  to  per- 
vade the  community.  The  powers  of  government  were,  it  ia  true, 
vested  in  the  trustees,  under  the  charter,  but  these  benevolent  indi- 
viduals, who  received  no  emoluments  for  their  services,  appear  to 
have  liad  the  interests  of  the  colony  at  heart.  A  vain  attempt  was 
made,  indeed,  to  secure  the  settlement  against  the  evils  of  slavery, 
the  importation  of  negroes  being  forbidden;  but  within  a  few  years 
the  inhabitants  became  convinced  that  the  condition  of  their  neigh- 
bours, who  availed  themselves  of  the  labour  of  blacks,  was  more 
prosperous  and  promising  than  their  own,  and  the  natural  result 
of  this  conclusion,  was  the  permanent  establishment  of  the  present 
servile  system. 

In  February,  (1736,)  the  town  of  Frederica,  on  St.  Simon's  Island, 
was  laid  out,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  governor,  in  person, 
advantage  being  taken  of  an  old  Indian  clearing  in  that  locality. 
From  St.  Simon's,  Oglethorpe  extended  his  journey  southward, 
through  the  inland  channels,  which  border  the  whole  coast,  taking 
possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  the  king,  and  marking  out 
sites  for  defensive  posts.  The  English  claim  included  all  north  of  the 
St.  John's,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  Spaniards  asserted  title  to 
the  whole  of  Georgia,  and  even  included  in  their  demands  a  portion 
of  South  Carolina,  limiting  their  territory  by  St.  Helena  Sound. 

These,  and  other  conflicting  claims,  resulted  in  war  between  tho 
two  nations.     Oglethorpe  having  received  a  military  commission 


206 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


as  brigadier-general  over  the  forces  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina, 
busied  himself  in  precautionary  measures  for  the  defenge  of  the 
colonies.  The  fort  at  Frederica  was  completed  and  strengthened,  aa 
forming  one  of  the  most  important  strongholds  on  the  coast.  His 
special  attention  was  devoted  to  a  confirmation  of  the  good-will  of 
the  natives,  among  whom  Spanish  agents  had  been  for  some  time 
occupied  in  sowing  distrust  and  suspicion.  The  Creeks,  however, 
still  retained  the  greatest  personal  attachment  to  Oglethorpe.  He 
was  among  the  few  officials  who  kept  faith  with  them,  and  they 
could  not  fail  to  appreciate  his  heartiness  and  sincerity.  In  1739, 
he  attended  a  great  meeting  of  the  chiefs,  far  in  the  interior,  on  the 
Ciiattahoochee,  where  he  smoked  the  calumet  of  peace  with  the 
assembly,  and  renewed  the  old  treaties  of  friendship  and  mutual 
])rotectioa. 


CxiAFiER   11. 


OOLETHORPE'S   EXPEDITION   AGAINST  ST.   AUGUSTINE:    SIEGE 
OP  THE  TOWN:    FAILURE  AND  RETURN  OP  THE  EXPEDITION. 
—  SPANISH    INVASION    IN    1742.  —  DEFENCE    OF    FRED- 
ERICA. — STRATAGEM    OP    OGLETHORPE. — THOMAS 
BOSOMWORTH     HIS  INTRIGUES   WITH    THE   IN- 
DIANS:  LITIGATION    WITH  THE  COLONY. — 
GEORGIA    A    ROYAL    PROTINCE. 


"With  the  commencement  of  tlie  year  1740,  an  expedition  waa 
undertaken  by  General  Oglethorpe  against  St.  Auj'ustine.  He 
readily  reduced  two  small  Spanish  outposts,  and  encamped  his 
forces  in  the  vicinity  until  he  could  procure  reinforcements  from 
Carolina,  These  arrived  about  the  clo.se  of  May,  and,  with  no  le.sa 
than  one  thousand  regular  troops  and  militia,  and  a  considerable 
body  of  Creek  allies,  he  laid  siege  to  tlie  town.  The  undortiiking 
resulted  in  di.sappointmcnt.  St.  Augustine  was  well  garrisoned  and 
fortified;  the  besieging  troops  were  reduced  in  numbers  and  effi- 
ciency by  desertion  and  by  the  diseases  incident  to  the  season,  and 
the  general  was  compelled  to  raise  the  siege  and  to  retreat  into 
Georgia. 


THE   SOUTHERN   COLONIES. 


207 


No  further  hostile  demonstration,  of  any  importance,  was  made 
by  either  colony  for  a  space  of  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
period  the  inhabitants  of  Carolina  and  Georgia  were  alarmed  by 
reports  of  the  approach  of  a  large  Spanish  fleet.  The  force  em- 
barked at  the  West  Indies  for  the  conquest  of  the  Southern  English 
colonies,  is  set  down  at  some  three  thousand  men;  the  fleet  num- 
bered over  thirty  sail.  Oglethorpe,  who  could  procure  no  aid  from 
Carolina,  exhibited  great  bravery,  energy,  and  good  generalshin  in 
the  defence  of  Georgia.  lie  reinforced  the  garrison  at  Fort  Wil- 
liam, on  Cumberland  island,  already  beset  by  the  enemy,  and  then 
betook  himself,  with  his  main  force — greatly  inferior  to  that  of  the 
assailants — to  his  most  defensible  position,  at  Frederica. 

Thither  he  was  pursued  by  the  Spanish  fleet,  which  entered  the 
inlet  on  the  5th  of  July,  (1742,)  in  spite  of  the  English  batteries, 
and  effected  a  landing  on  the  island.  Fortunately,  the  only  road 
leading  to  Frederica,  was  defensible,  being  flanked  by  a  swamp  on 
one  side  and  a  thick  forest  on  the  other.  Several  attempts  to  force 
a  passage  were  met  by  an  obstinate  and  successful  resistance.  Some 
days  later,  by  a  pretended  dispatch,  designedly  allowed  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy,  Oglethorpe  succeeded  in  deceiving  the 
Spanish  commander  into  a  belief  that  large  reinforcements  were 
momentarily  expected  from  Carolina.  This  idea  was  strengthened 
by  the  appearance  of  some  small  vessels  off  the  coast. 

The  Spaniards  made  one  more  vain  attack  upon  the  position  of 
the  English,  and  then  reembarked — the  invasion  having  proved 
as  fruitless  as  that  against  St.  Augustine,  in  17-iO.  Oglethorpe  bade 
a  final  adieu  to  the  colonics  in  the  year  following  these  cventp.  lie 
lived  to  a  venerable  old  aao,  respected  and  admired  for  every  qual- 
ity, moral  and  personal,  that  can  command  esteem  and  conciliate 
good- will. 

After  his  departure,  the  provi.^ions  against  slavery  soon  became  a 
dead  letter,  and  there  were  not  wanting  advocates  of  the  system 
among  the  most  noted  religionists  of  tho  day.  George  WhitefieUl, 
whose  preaching  had  already  given  him  a  wide  celebrity,  expressed 
himself  in  its  favour,  trusting  that  the  negro  race  might  be  bcneCtted 
by  tran.slation  from  a  savage  life  to  the  society  of  (.'hrisliaiis.  Tho 
number  of  white  colonists,  at  this  period,  was  probably  not  far  from 
three  thousand. 

"The  year  1740  was  memorable  for  a  moat  audacious  attempt  on 
tho  part  of  one   Thomas  Bosomworth   to   nggrandi/o  himself  by 
Vol.  IV.— 42 


In 


208 


AMERICA  ILLUSTEATED. 


attaining  a  supremacy  over  the  Creeks.  He  had  been,  formerly,  a 
chaplain  in  Oglethorpe's  regiment,  and  had  married  ;^[ary  Mus- 
grove,  his  half-breed  interpreter.  In  December,  of  1747,  this  man 
fell  in  with  a  company  of  chiefs,  belonging*  to  the  nation,  then  on 
a  visit  to  Frcikriea;  and  pei-suaded  them  to  sign  certain  articles, 
acknowledging  one  of  their  number,  named  Malatche  Opiya  Meco, 
as  riiihtful  king  over  the  whole  Creek  nation.  Bosomworth  then 
procured  from  Malatche  a  conveyance,  for  certain  considerations — 
amonij  other  thines,  a  lariie  q\iantitv  of  ammunition  and  clothing — 
of  the  islands  formerly  owned  by  the  Indian?,  to  himself  and  his 
wife  ilar}',  their  heirs  and  a.ssigas,  'as  long  as  the  sun  shall  shine, 
or  the  waters  run  in  the  rivers,  for  ever.'  This  deed  was  regularly 
witnessed,  proved  before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  recorded  in  due 
form.  Bosomworth  made  some  efforts  to  stock  and  improve  these 
Islands,  but,  his  amliition  becoming  aroused  by  success  in  his  first 
intrigue,  he  entered  upon  one  much  more  extensive.  By  his  per 
suasions,  his  wife  now  made  the  extraordinary  claim  that  she  was 
^[alatche's  elder  sister,  and  entitled  to  regal  authority  over  the 
whole  Creek  territory."* 

No  matter  how  shallow  a  claim  may  be,  if  openly  and  obstinately 
persisted  in,  it  will  generally  obtain  credit  with  some.  A  great  dis- 
turbance ensued,  and,  at  one  time,  the  town  of  Savannah  was  in  no 
small  danger  from  the  Indians  of  Mary's  J^arty,  who  aj/peared  in 
defence  of  her  asserted  rights.  A  long  and  wearisome  litigation  in 
the  courts  of  Great  Britain  was  maintained  by  Bosomworth  and  his 
brother,  Adam,  the  Indian  agent  in  Carolina,  with  the  colony  of 
Georgia.  Final  deci.-^ion  was  not  rendered  until  1751),  when  Mary 
and  her  husband  had  their  title  to  St.  Catharine's  island  confirmed. 
They  j)assod  the  remainder  of  their  lives  iu  quiet  possession  of  the 
property. 

Prior  to  this  period,  in  1754,  a  royal  government  had  succeeded 
the  surrender  (jf  their  chartered  rights  by  the  trustees.  The  colony 
was  not  exempt  from  the  usual  difficulties,  jealousies,  discoiitent,  and 
hardships  which  so  generally  beset  new  settlements,  \m  to  which 
Georgia  was  jiccuiiarly  exposed  from  the  heterogeneous  character 
of  its  iidiabitants.  The  only  important  events  in  which  she  bore  a 
part  during  the  further  continuance  of  the  colonial  system,  are  cou- 
r.ected  with  the  Cherokee  wars,  of  which  a  brief  account  will  be 
given  hereafter. 

*  Indian  R;u't.'8  of  Aincrlcii. 


THE   SOUTHEKN    COLOKIES. 


209 


ulli^lLdrJtjjXi    IXj,. 


SOUTH    CAROLINA:    RELIGIOUS   CONTROVERSIES:    ARCIIDALK'3 
ADMINISTRATION:    MOORE'S  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  ST.  AUGUS- 
TINE:   INVASION  OF  INDIAN  TERRITORY:    PRENCII    FLEET 
ON   THE   COAST:    CULTURE    OF    RICE:   INDIAN    CONSPIRACY: 
REVOLT  AGAINST   THE   PROPRIETORS:    THE  CHAILTER 
DECLARED   FORFEIT:    SOUTH    CAROLINA   A   ROYAL 
PROVINCE.  —  NORTH  CAROLINA:    POLITICAL  DIS- 
TURBANCES:   A   PROSPEROUS  ANARCHY:    SEP- 
ARATION   PROM    SOUTH    CAROLINA. 


; 


Froii  tlie  period  of  tlie  revolution,  in  1688,  until  about  the  close 
of  the  century.  South  Carolina,  although  steadily  increasing  in  pop- 
ulation, wealth,  and  political  importance,  was  much  di.-^turbed  by 
religious  dissensions.  The  sober  and  peaceable  Ilugucnuts  were  in 
favour  with  the  colonial  proprietors,  but  a  strong  opposition  arose 
in  the  province  to  the  admission  of  these  foreigners  to  equal  privi- 
leges with  those  of  English  descent  and  attached  to  the  established 
church.  This  controversy  distracted,  in  a  greater  or  less  d;'gree,  the 
successive  administrations  of  Sothel,  Ludwell,  and  Smith.  The 
appointment  of  John  Archdalc,  a  Quaker,  and  a  man  of  generosity  and 
liberality,  in  the  year  1(J95,  gave  promise  of  a  better  statu  uf  things. 

This  worthy  governor,  by  moderate  but  elTectivc  regulations,  suc- 
ceeded in  quieting  the  turbulent  factions  of  the  colony,  and  in  con- 
ciliating, by  protection  and  kind  ofiiccs,  the  neighbouring  tribes  of 
Indians  and  the  Si)anish  colonists  of  Florida.  The  dangerous 
shoals  of  Cajie  Fear,  lying  nearly  out  of  sight  of  the  low  shore,  have 
always  been  the  dread  uf  navigators  upon  the  coiust,  and  in  these 
early  times  the  want  of  jiroper  instruments  for  determining  the 
longitude,  rendered  their  condition  much  more  perilou.s.  It  was  no 
small  blessing  to  the  unfortunate  mariners  who,  at  this  poj  iod,  from 
lime  to  time,  sulVored  shipwreck  on  the  cape,  to  mret  v,  iih  kind 
treatment,  shelter,  auil  assistance  from  the  coast  Indian.-^.  From 
first  to  last,  the  aborigines  of  America  have  shown  them.^elves  ready 
to  reciprocate  kindness  and  good-will.  In  almost  every  instance 
when  tiiey  have  made  unprovoked  attacks  upon  tlie  whites,  the 
cause  can  be  traced  to  some  error  or  misconception. 


210 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


I 


When  Arclidale  left  the  colony,  former  dissensions  were  revived, 
although  he  still  exerted  all  his  influence  with  the  proprietors  for 
the  maintenance  of  religious  liberty.  The  appointment  of  James 
Moore,  represented  as  a  grasping  and  selfish  man,  to  the  office  of 
governor,  was  little  conducive  to  quiet  and  prosperity. 

Under  his  administration,  war  having  broken  out  betv/een  Eng- 
land and  S})ain,  a  colonial  expedition  was  planned  against  St.  Au- 
gustine. Bound  on  this  enterprise,  Moore  sailed  for  Florida,  in  the 
month  of  September,  1702,  at  the  head  of  about  six  hundred  volun- 
teers, lie  succeeded  in  capturing  the  town,  but  the  strong  military 
fortress  constituted  a  safe  and  defensible  place  of  retreat  for  the 
Spaniards,  While  waiting  the  arrival  of  artillery  for  the  reduction 
of  the  fort,  several  Spanish  vessels  arrived  olf  the  harbour,  and 
Moore  was  obliged  to  beat  a  retreat  by  land,  leaving  his  vessels, 
stores,  &c.,  to  the  enemy.  The  expense  of  the  fruitless  undertaking 
was  defrayed  by  a  large  issue  of  colonial  bills  of  credit. 

In  the  month  of  December,  of  the  same  year.  Governor  Moore 
retrieved  his  credit  as  a  general,  by  a  successful  march  through  the 
extensive  intervening  wilderness,  and  a  descent  upon  the  Indians 
and  Spanish,  on  the  coast  of  Appalache.  The  hostile  settlements 
of  that  whole  neighbourhood  were  broken  up.  The  Spaniards  were 
enabled  to  defend  the  fort  of  Ayavalla,  but  the  assailants  burned 
the  adjoining  church.  Between  one  and  two  hundred  Indians  were 
carried  off  cai)tives,  to  be  afterwards  sold  as  slaves. 

In  1706,  the  Episcopal  establishment  was  extended  to  South  Car- 
olina, but  the  condition  of  dissenters  was,  at  the  same  time,  rendered 
more  safe  by  a  definite  toleration  in  their  religion,  and  security  of 
their  civil  riiihts.  Sir  Nathaniel  Johnson  at  this  time  held  the 
office  of  governor,  and  had  an  opportunity  to  distinguish  himself  by 
a  brave  and  dotorinined  defence  of  the  coa^t  against  a  French  fleet 
sent  out  from  Cuba  to  invade  the  country.  The  enemy  met  with 
heavy  loss  at  every  attempt  to  land,  and  one  of  their  vessels  fell 
into  the  haiuls  of  the  colonists. 

The  culture  of  rice,  introduced  a  number  of  years  previous,  had 
by  this  time  bcct)me  extensive,  and  proved  a  source  of  profit  to  tlio 
planter  unecpialled  by  any  previous  agricultural  enterprise.  Indigo, 
an  article  wliieh  has  been  of  late  years  neglected,  was  also  found  a 
profitable  crop  by  the  early  planters  of  the  southern  colonies. 

In  tlie  si'riii",'  of  1715,  the  machinations  of  the  French  and  Span- 
iards stirred  up  a  most  dangerous  conspi-acy  of  the   Yema-sces, 


i 


THE   SOUTHERN   COLONIES. 


211 


TJcbes,  and  otber  Southern  tribes,  against  the  English  settlements. 
The  detached  and  unprotected  villages  and  plantations  of  the  fron- 
tier were  ravaged,  and  some  four  hundred  of  the  inhabitants  per- 
ished, or  were  reserved  for  the  worse  fate  of  prisoners  to  the  savages. 
The  main  body  of  the  Indian  confederates  was  finally  defeated  by 
the  colonial  forces,  under  Governor  Charles  Craven,  near  the 
Salkiehachie. 

The  neglect  of  the  proprietors  to  furnish  any  means  of  defence  for 
the  colony,  their  lefusal  to  make  remuneration  for  the  heavy  expense 
of  the  ^"te  Indian  war,  oppressive  regulations,  opposition  to  neces- 
•     y  ■raents,  and  the  ma   ....   .nee  in  office  of  obnoxious  indi- 

\iuuals,  -.suited  in  a  popular  out-break  against  their  authority. 
The  assembly,  in  1719,  chose  James  Moore  as  governor,  and  openly 
defied  the  proprietary  oQicers.  In  the  year  following,  the  matter 
was  examined  into  by  the  English  government;  the  charter  to  the 
proprietors  was  declared  forfeited;  and  Francis  Nicholrfon  received 
the  appointment  of  governor.  The  colony  continued,  thenceforth,  a 
royal  province.  All  the  claims  of  the  proprietors  to  rent  and  other 
perquisites  were,  some  years  later,  acquired  by  purchase  on  the  }iart 
of  the  crown.  Friendly  relations  with  the  neighbouring  Indian 
tribes  were  solemnly  established  in  1730.  The  Cherokees,  at  a 
great  council  held  at  Nequassee,  in  the  Tennessee  valley,  concluded 
and  signed,  by  the  marks  of  their  principal  chiefs,  a  treaty  of  alli- 
ance with  the  English.  Seven  of  their  number  were  taken  to  Eng- 
land, that  their  reports,  on  their  return,  might  impress  the  tribe  with 
some  adequate  conception  of  the  number  and  power  of  their  allies. 

The  scattered  population  of  North  Carolina,  which  was  first  in- 
cluded under  the  same  grant  with  the  southern  province,  w:\s 
governed,  if  government  it  could  be  called,  by  a  deputy  from  the 
governor  of  South  Carolina.  The  greatest  freedom  of  opinion  and 
liberty  of  action  prevailed,  but  affairs  went  on  very  quietly  until 
the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  an  attempt  at  the 
establishment  of  the  Church  of  England  aroused  an  extremely  hos- 
tile spirit  among  the  Quakers  and  other  dissenters,  who  constituted 
no  small  portion  of  the  inhabitants.  A  conflict  of  claims,  'n  1705, 
between  Glover  and  Cary,  for  the  executive  office — the  one  being 
cho.'^en  directly  by  the  proprietors,  the  other  by  t)ie  governor  of 
South  Carolina — gave  fresh  impetus  to  a  party  strife  theretofore 
unknown  in  the  colon}'. 

For  a  number  of  years,  the  community  appears  to  have  existed 


I 


212 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


almost  without  law;  but  an  immigration  of  industrious  and  frugal 
Swiss,  Germans,  and  other  Europeans,  continued  to  extend  civiliza- 
tion through  the  comparatively  barren  district.  The  province  was 
already  noted  for  its  large  exportation  of  lumber,  pitch,  tar,  and 
turpentine.  In  1729,  when,  as  before  mentioned,  the  disputes  be- 
tween the  inhabitants  of  Carolina  and  the  proprietors  were  settled 
by  an  assumption,  or  purchase,  of  the  rights  of  the  latter  by  the 
crown,  North  Carolina  was  first  constituted  an  entirely  separate 
province,  the  governor  being  selected  by  royal  appointment,  and  the 
legislative  assembly  being  chosen  by  the  people. 


Cn  APTEH   I?, 


VIRGINIA   UNDER  ROYAL  GOVERNORS:   STATE  OF  THE  COLONY: 
CHUUCII  CONTROVERSIES.  —  PENNSYLVANIA  A  ROYAL  PROV- 
INCE:  THE  PROPRIETOR  REINSTATED:    POLICY   OP   PENN. 

—  DELAWARE:    DEATH   OF   PENN:    HIS   SUCCESSORS. 

MARYLAND:     ITS  CATHOLIC   POPULATION:    GOVERN- 
MENT    OP     THE     ASSOCIATION:     OPPRESSIVE     EN- 
ACTMENTS:   THE    PROPRIETORS    RESTORED. 


Virginia,  subsequent  to  the  English  revolution,  remained  a 
royal  province  during  her  continuance  as  a  colony.  Legislation  was 
confided  to  a  governor  appointed  by  the  crown,  assisted  by  a  council 
of  his  own  nomination,  and  to  an  assembly  elected  by  the  people. 
The  first  successive  incumbents  of  the  highest  oflic  in  the  province 
were  Francis  Nicholson  and  Sir  Edniund  Andros  the  same  whose 
tyranny  and  exactions  had  previously  exasperated  the  New  Eng- 
land colonies. 

These  ollicia^.s  were  invested  with  high,  and  even  arbitrary  pow- 
ers, but  the  character  of  the  people  with  whom  they  had  to  deal, 
compelled  moderation  in  their  exercise.  The  population,  although 
quite  numerous,  was  extensively  scattered,  and  the  isolated  position 
of  the  planl(Ts  and  farmers  tended  to  develop  a  strong  sense  of  per- 
sonal freedom  and  independence.  The  administration  of  govern- 
ment v.as  not  carried  on  without  considerable  conflict  between  tho 
difPirent  departments,  but  no  very  serious  difiiculties  arose.    Tho 


THE   SOCTHEEX    COLONIES. 


213 


Churcli  of  England  was  the  established  religious  sj-stetn,  so  far  as 
any  parochial  system  could  be  established  over  so  wide  an  extent 
of  scattered  hamlets  or  detached  plantations.  Tobacco  was  the  great 
staple  production  of  the  province,  and  served  for  ihej)rincipal  cir- 
culating medium.  Taxes  and  church  dues  were  specifically  payable 
in  tobacco.  From  a  complaint,  on  the  part  of  the  clergy,  that  they 
were  made  losers  by  a  legislative  provision  for  compounding  the 
latter  assessment  by  a  payment  in  paper  monev,  arose  that  cele- 
brated controversy  relative  to  the  "parson's  money,"  in  which  the 
eloquence  of  Patrick  Henry,  then  a  young  advocate,  prevailed 
against  a  plain  legal  claim  (1763). 

Pennsylvania,  in  consequence  of  domestic  disturbance,  fomented 
by  George  Keith,  a  seceding  Quxiker,  and  because  of  suspicions 
which  had  fallen  upon  the  proprietor,  was  subjected,  in  1693,  to  a 
governor  holding  commission  from  the  crown,  and  became,  for  a 
short  period,  a  royal  province.  Benjamin  Fletcher,  governor  of 
New  York,  received  the  appointment.  His  brief  administration 
was  marked  only  by  strife  with  the  assembly.  In  the  summer  of 
the  following  year,  Penn,  having*  regained  the  favour  of  the  king, 
was  reinstated  in  his  colonial  rights. 

In  reestablishing  his  prerogatives  with  a  new  settlement  of  the 
government  of  his  colony,  after  restoration  of  the  proprietary  gov- 
ernment, William  Penn  took  every  precaution  to  secure  the  full 
acquiescence  of  the  inhabitants.  The  powers  of  the  governor — a 
deputy  of  the  proprietor — were  not  very  dissimilar  to  those  now 
conferred  upon  the  governor  of  either  of  the  independent  states. 
The  council  was  simply  advisory,  and  the  principal  legislation  was 
confided  to  the  popular  assembly. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  present  state  of  Delaware,  then  known  as 
"The  Territories,"  conceiving  that  the}'  were  insufliciently  repre- 
sented, had,  some  years  previous,  moved  for  a  separation.  This 
had  been  accorded  by  the  proprietor,  but  the  two  provinces  were 
reunited  during  Fletcher's  administration.  A  final  .separation  was 
effected  in  1702.  The  governor  of  Pennsylvania  still  retained  a 
nominal  authority,  but  the  new  assembly  had,  in  effect,  entire  con- 
trol over  the  province  of  Delaware. 

Although  Penn  had  ever  pursued  a  far  more  generous  policy 
than  any  other  of  the  colonial  proprietors,  and,  with  opj)orl unities 
for  enriching  himself  which  few  wouid  have  had  the  self-denial  to 
neglect,  was  growing  ok'   n  poverty,  all  could  not  shield  him  from 


] 


214 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


suspicion  and  ill-will  on  the  part  of  a  portion  of  the  colonists 
"  From  various  causes,  principally  a  neglect  of  his  own  ihterests  in 
extending  civilization  in  America,  he  became  so  far  involved,  that 
he  was  for  a  time  compelled  to  reside  within  the  rules  of  the  Fleet 
Prison,  In  1709  he  mortgaged  his  province  of  Pennsylvania  to 
relieve  himself  from  the  pressure  of  debt.  During  the  last  six  years 
of  his  life  his  bodily  and  mental  faculties  were  greatly  impaired;  he 
died,  after  a  gradual  decline,  on  the  30th  of  July,  1718."  His  rights 
as  proprietor  were  exercised,  subsequent  to  his  death,  by  his  widow 
and  afterwards  by  his  sons.  This  form  of  government  was  continued 
\xntil  the  commencement  of  the  American  revolution. 

The  province  of  Maryland,  on  the  accession  of  William  and 
^rary,  was  under  the  administration  of  deputies  commissioned  by 
the  proprietor.  Lord  Baltimore,  (son  of  the  original  patentee.)  So 
large  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  were  of  the  Catholic  persuasion — 
the  proprietor  holding  to  the  same  faith — that,  although  the  English 
church  had  been  already  established,  it  was  hardly  to  be  expected 
that  a  Protestant  succession  in  England  should  be  looked  upon  with 
general  favour  in  the  colony. 

The  proprietary  government  neglected  to  conform  to  the  new 
order  of  things  until  compelled  by  a  self  constituted  association  of 
the  colonists,  A  provisional  government  was  formed,  which  ob- 
tained the  royal  sanction,  and  existed  until  1692,  when  a  governor 
was  appointed  directly  by  the  crown,  ^faryland  became  a  royal 
province,  and  remained  such  for  a  period  of  twenty-three  years. 
The  general  assembly  confirmed  the  church  establishment,  and  many 
disenfranchising  regulations  were  passed  for  the  suppression  of 
papacy.  Catholics  were  not  only  compelled  to  contribute  to  the 
support  of  the  established  church,  but  were  subjected  to  the  most 
galling  disabilities.  The  legal  successors  of  the  proprietor  were 
restored  to  their  rights  in  1715,  and  maintained  their  authority  unti! 
the  general  overthrow  of  the  old  governments  at  the  revolution. 


INDIAN  ¥ARS,  ETC. 


UitlAirXJCjaTi,      Jt« 

COMMENCEMENT    OF    THE    CHEROKEE    WAR:   TREATY   AT    POftI 

ST.  OEOROE:    SIEGE  OF  THAT    FORT:    MURDER  OF  HOSTAGES: 

MONTGOMERY'S   CAMPAIGN:    DESTRUCTION  OF   THE   LOWER 

CHEROKEE  SETTLEMENTS:    RETREAT:   MASSACRE  OB 

THE  GARRISON   OP    FORT   LOUDON:    THE    TOWNS 

OF    T»E    MIDDLE     CHEROKEES    DESTROYED 

BY    THE    FORCES    UNDEB    GRANT. 

Having  thus  given  a  brief  sketch  of  the  affairs  of  the  separate 
colonies,  up  to  tlie  occurrence  of  events  which  called  for  their  united 
action,  we  may  revert  to  matters  of  more  general  concern,  in  which 
the  provinces,  irrespective  of  political  connection,  were  only  united 
by  a  common  necessity.  The  most  important  transactions  in  which 
the  northern  colonies  were  jointly  engaged,  were  the  early  Indian 
wars,  and  the  protracted  contests  with  the  French  and  Indians.  Of 
these  we  have  already  spoken,  as  far  as  our  limits  would  permit,  in 
treating  of  English  colonization,  and  of  the  French  in  America.  It 
remains  to  notice,  in  military  affairs,  the  Indian  campaigns  in  the 
south  and  west,  and  to  touch  upon  some  topics  of  general  interest  to 
the  colonies,  before  proceeding  to  the  causes  of  discontent  and  the 
political  issues  which  resulted  in  the  war  of  the  revolution. 

After  the  abandonment  of  Fort  Duquesne,  by  the  French,  a  party 
of  Cherokee  Indians,  who,  during  the  campaign,  had  served  in  the 
English  army,  under  General  Forbes,  set  out  upon  their  return  to 
their  own  tribes  and  country.  Impelled  by  necessity,  they  commit- 
ted various  depredations  upon  the  property  of  the  German  settlers 
in  Virginia.  In  some  instances,  they  made  use  of  horses  which  they 
found  at  large  in  the  woods,  and,  as  they  were  nearly  destitute  of 


•J' 


t 


1 


i  ^ 


216 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


provisions,  wc  may  suppose  that  tbey  occasionally  made  free  with 
whatever  might  supply  their  wants. 

Tlaese  injuries  were  revenged  by  the  backwoodsmen  in  the  most 
violent  and  cruel  manner.  If  we  may  credit  Adair,  an  historian 
who  had  greater  opportunities  than  any  other  writer  of  his  time  to 
acquaint  himself  with  Indian  character  and  the  history  of  the  south- 
ern tribes,  they  indulged  their  malice  by  tormenting  and  scaljnng 
their  victims.  He  adds,  that  "those  murderers  were  so  audacious 
ns  to  impose  the  scalps  on  the  government  for  those  of  the  French 
Indians;  and  that  they  actually  obtained  the  premiums  allowed  at 
that  time  by  law  in  such  a  case."  > 

These  outrages  were  not  immediately  resented  by  the  nation,  but 
after  vain  application  for  redress,  and  the  experience  of  further 
wrongs  and  insults,  the  revengeful  spirit  of  the  Indian  was  fully 
aroused.  The  French  and  their  Creek  allies  took  the  opportunity 
to  lend  their  influence  in  exciting  hostility.  A  war-party  was  ac- 
cordingly dispatched  to  commence  retaliation  upon  the  western  set- 
tlements of  North  Carolina.  Many  of  the  whites  were  put  to  death, 
and  much  injury  was  done  upon  the  frontier. 

These  events  took  place  in  1759,  and,  as  it  was  now  evident  that 
a  general  disaffection  existed  among  the  Cherokees,  active  exertions 
were  made  by  the  governor  of  South  Carolina,  Y^illiam  Lyttleton, 
to  avert  the  calamities  of  an  Indian  war,  as  well  as  to  prepare 
measures  for  defence  in  case  of  extremity.  A  conference  was 
brought  about,  towards  the  close  of  the  year,  at  Fort  St.  George,  on 
the  Savannah.  Six  of  the  Indian  chiefs,  claiming  authority  to  aci 
for  the  tribe,  appeared,  and  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace,  surrender- 
ing thirty-two  hostages,  as  security  for  their  good  faith. 

This  treaty  was  not  considered  binding  by  the  nation,  and  a 
formidable  body  of  Indians,  led  by  Occonostota,  a  noted  war-chief, 
laid  siege  to  this  fort  in  the  month  of  February  (1760).  Coy tm ore, 
the  commander  of  the  garrison,  who  had,  by  some  former  transac- 
tions, acquired  the  special  ill-will  of  the  natives,  was  decoyed  with- 
out the  works,  and  shot  by  concealed  marksmen.  Several  of  his 
companions  were  wounded.  The  Indian  hostages,  from  their  place 
of  confinement  within  the  fort,  liearing  the  report  of  fire-arms, 
shouted  encouragement  to  their  peojile.  An  order  was  accordingly 
given  to  put  them  in  irons.  To  this  they  refused  submission,  making 
desperate  resistance,  and  wounding  three  of  the  soldiers  who  were 
endeavouring  to  carry  out  the  order.    It  was  then  concluded  t-o  put 


u 


INDIAN   WAKS. 


217 


them  all  to  death,  which  was  done  accordingly,  in  a  manner  as 
cowardly  as  the  design  was  base,  viz:  by  firing  down  upon  them, 
through  a  hole  in  the  roof. 

Tlie  whole  frontier  was,  immediately  subsequent  to  this  outrage, 
involved  in  a  general  war.  The  British  commander-in-chief  of  the 
reguhir  forces  in  America,  detached  a  regiment  of  Scotch  Ilighland- 
ers,  under  Colonel  Montgomery,  with  other  troops  from  New  York, 
to  the  seat  of  disturbance.  The  legislatures  of  North  and  South 
Carolina  olfered  premiums  for  scalps,  and  raised  sums  of  money  to 
purchase  the  assistance  of  the  Creeks  and  other  southern  tribes. 

In  the  course  of  the  spring.  Colonel  Montgomery,  with  the  regular 
and  provincial  troops  under  his  command,  overran  the  whole  terri- 
tory of  the  Lower  Cherokees,  laying  waste  every  Indian  settlement. 
The  towns  of  Keowee  and  iilstatoe,  the  lattei  containing  two  hundred 
houses,  were  destroyed,  together  with  great  quantities  of  stored  pro- 
visions. Before  the  end  of  the  campr.'gn,  there  was  not  an  Indian 
village  left;  east  of  the  Blue  Sidge. 

The  Cherokees,  instead  of  being  disheart  ^d  by  their  reverses, 
refused  to  listen  to  any  overtures  of  pacific  li  jn,  and  prepared  them- 
selves to  resist  the  advance  of  th  ^roops  into  the  ^terior.  Near 
their  principal  town  of  Etchoe,  tley  tu'cpared  an  ambush  in  a  nar- 
now  pass,  where  a  muddy  stream  took  its  course  between  hi-rh  ind 
steep  banks,  nearly  impassable  from  tangled  undergrowth.  In 
forcing  this  defile,  the  assailants  met  with  heavv  loss,  and  the  com- 
mander,  seeing  that  the  Indians  had  made  a  new  stand  a  little  in 
advance,  and  were  determined  to  resist  to  the  last,  concluded  to 
retreat.     This  was  in  the  month  of  June. 

Immediately  upon  his  return  to  the  coast,  Montgomery,  in  pursu- 
ance of  orders,  sailed  for  New  York,  leaving  Major  Hamilton,  with 
but  a  small  force,  for  the  protection  of  the  exposed  districts.  The 
fliilure  of  this  seconi^  <»xpedition  revived  the  spirits  of  the  Indians, 
and  spread  universa-  I'n-or  and  consternation  among  the  colonists 
of  the  frontier.  At  Fort  Loudon,  the  garrison  under  Captain  Stu- 
art, after  sustaining  a  long  siege,  evacuated  the  place,  upon  condi- 
tions conceded  by  Occonostota,  of  free  and  safe  passage  to  Fort  St. 
George,  or  inio  Virginia.  They  had  not,  however,  proceeded  fi\r, 
before  they  were  set  upon  by  the  enemy,  and  all  killed  or  taken 
prisoners. 

Captain  Stuart  owed  his  life  and  liberty  to  the  benevolence  of 
an  old  chief,  named  AtakullakuUa,  a  man  of  great  influence  in  his 


218 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


tribe,  and  peaceably  disposed  towards  the  colonists.  The  safety  ol 
Fort  St.  George  was  secured  by  a  timely  warning  from  Stuart  of 
an  intended  attack  by  the  Indians.  An  attitude  of  hostility  was 
still  maintained  by  the  Cherokees,  and  constant  efforts  were  made 
by  French  agents  among  them  to  avert  any  prospect  of  a  peaceable 
settlement  of  difficulties. 

In  the  spring  of  1761,  a  force  of  more  than  two  thousand  British 
regulars,  provincial  troops,  and  friendly  Indians,  under  command  of 
Colonel  James  Grant,  was  marched  into  the  interior.  Old  Attakulla- 
kulla  made  vain  interposition  in  behalf  of  his  people.  On  the  10th 
of  June,  a  desperate  eftbrt  was  made  by  the  main  body  of  the  Indiana 
to  check  the  advance  of  the  enemy.  The  battle  took  place  near  the 
spot  whither  Montgomery  had  penetrated  on  his  last  expedition. 
The  Cherokees  were  totally  defeated;  the  town  of  Etchoc  was 
burned;  and  "all  the  other  towns  in  the  middle  settlement,  fourteen 
in  number,  shared  the  same  fate:  the  corn,  cattle,  and  other  stores 
of  the  enemy,  were  likewise  destroyed,  and  those  miserable  savages. 
witli  their  families,  were  driven  to  seek  shelter  and  subsistence 
among  the  barren  mountains."* 

The  Indians  were,  of  course,  obliged  to  accept  such  terms  as  their 
conquerors  saw  fit  to  impose,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  any  ungen- 
erous advantage  was  taken  of  their  helpless  condition.  Indeed,  after 
the  conclusion  of  peace,  efforts  were  made  for  the  protection  of  the 
Indians  in  their  landed  rights,  and  to  regulate  the  traffic  with  them 
so  .IS  to  secure  them  against  deception. 

The  whole  of  the  southern  tribes  remained,  comparatively,  at  peace 
with  the  colonies  from  this  period  until  they  became  involved  in  the 
general  Indian  wars  of  the  early  part  of  the  present  century.  "By 
a  steady  increase  of  numbers,  and  the  adventurous  spirit  of  pioneers, 
the  white  settlers  every  where  made  advances  upon  the  Indian  terri- 
tory. Sometimes  large  acquisitions  would  be  made  by  a  government 
purchase;  but,  to  no  small  extent,  the  opinion  that  the  occupation 
of  a  few  roving  savages  could  give  no  natural  title  to  lands,  as 
oitposed  to  the  claims  of  those  who  had  reclaimed,  cnclo.«ed,  and 
improved  the  wildcrncs.^,  .satisfied  the  consciences  of  the  encroachers. 
^  .0  argument  in  favour  of  tiiis  conclusion  is  by  no  means  without 
force;  but  who  can  take  uj)on  iiimself  to  draw  the  line  of  demarca- 
tion which  shall  decide,  upon  any  {)rincij)le3of  univer.«al  ajiplication, 
the  bounds  of  so  artificial  a  right  as  the  owncrshij)  of  land?"f 

*  McCuH'b  History  of  Uvor^fia.  t  Indian  Ruccn  of  America. 


1 


L 


INDIAN   WARS. 


219 


kJ     iLJu      uiij>     J*         w       JlJ     Jub  Jw      Ji  • 


ENOr.I.SlI  OCCUPATION   OP  THE  WESTERN  TEADINO    POSTS.— 

CONSPIRACY    OF   THE   NORTH-WESTERN   TRIBES,  UNDfR   PON- 

TIAC.  —  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  ENGLISH  FORTS.  —  TAKING 

OF    MICHILLIMACKINAC. SIEGE   OF   DETROIT.  —  LOSS 

AT    BLOODY-RUN. — CLOSE    OF    THE    WAR. — MASSA- 
CRE   OF    THE    CANESTOGA    INDIANS. 


By  treaty,  in  17C0,  the  extended  line  of  stations  upon  the  western 
lakes,  belonging  to  the  French,  were  to  be  put  into  possession  of  the 
English.  The  long  friendship  that  had  subsisted  between  the 
former  and  the  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Pottawatomies,  &c.,  who  inhab- 
ited the  country,  caused  these  tribes  to  look  with  jealous  eyes  upon 
the  proposed  English  occupation.  They  were  united  in  a  sort  of 
confederation,  at  the  head  of  which,  in  influence  and  authority, 
was  Pontiac,  the  renowned  Ottawa  chief.  Although  he  had  formed 
the  determination  of  restoring  his  old  allies,  the  French,  to  the  pos- 
session of  their  established  trading  posts,  this  bold,  but  crafty 
leader,  suffered  the  first  English  detachment,  under  Major  llogers, 
to  enter  the  country  without  molestation.  In  an  interview,  held 
with  the  commanding  officer,  he  exhibited  the  pride  and  dignity  of 
a  monarch,  expressly  asserting  his  own  rights  of  territory. 

Uis  plans  being  perfected,  and  the  cooperation  of  other  tribes — 
among  them,  the  Miamis,  Sacs  and  Foxes,  II\irons,  and  Shawance.s — 
being  secured,  the  month  of  June,  17G3,  was  appointed  for  a  simul- 
taneous attack  upon  all  the  English  strongholds  at  the  west.  So 
extensive  were  the  preparations  for  this  outbreak,  that  entire  secresy 
could  not  be  preserved  respecting  it,  and  intinuUion  was,  from  time 
to  time,  given  by  white  traders  of  the  storm  that  was  brewing. 
Either  those  reports  were  not  fully  credited,  or  the  garrisons  frU 
themselves  strong  enough  to  defy  any  attack  from  the  Indian.*',  for 
no  extraordinary  precautions  were  taken  for  defence. 

When  the  blow  fell,  the  Indians  appeared  in  such  numbers  that, 
althoUL'ii  divided  into  as  many  parties  as  there  were  points  of  attack, 
they  overpowered  the  garrisons,  and  destroyed  the  works  of  nearly 
all  tiie  Knglisii  furt.'^.  Nine  of  these  were  taken  by  force  or  fraud, 
and  the  deleuilers  slain  or  carried  away  captive.     The  manner  iu 


i 


V' 


^"1 


220 


AMEIMCA   ILLUSTRATED. 


which  Micliillimackinac  was  seized,  is  thus  described:  '•ITundrcds 
of  Indians,  mostly  Chippewas  and  Sacs,  had  been  loitering  about  the 
place  for  some  days  previous,  and,  on  the  4th  of  June,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  celebrate  the  king's  birth-day  by  a  great  game  at  ball. 
This  sport,  carried  -on,  a.s  usual,  with  noise  and  tumult,  threw  the 
garrison  off  their  guard,  at  the  same  time  that  it  affonled  a  pretext 
for  clambering  into  the  fort.  The  ball  was  several  times,  a-s  if  by 
accident,  knocked  within  the  pickets,  the  whole  gang  rushing  in 
pursuit  of  it  with  shouts.  At  a  favourable  moment,  they  fell  ujon 
the  English,  dispersed  and  unsuspicious  of  intended  liarm,  and  be- 
fore any  eflectual  resistance  could  be  made,  murdered  and  sculped 
seventy  of  the  number.  The  remainder,  being  twenty  men,  were 
taken  captive.''* 

Pearly  in  May,  Pontiac,  in  person,  with  a  chosen  body  of  warriors, 
hiid  siege  to  Detroit,  the  principal  military  post  and  trading  station 
at  the  far  west.  The  place  was  garrisoned  by  an  hundred  and  thirty 
men,  of  whom  Major  Gladwyn  had  command.  A  plan  was  formed 
by  the  Indians  to  gain  admission  within  the  fort,  on  pretence  of  a 
conference,  and  then,  with  concealed  weapons,  (rifles,  shortened,  so  as 
to  be  hid  by  the  blanket,)  to  fall  upon  the  garrison  at  a  disadvantiige, 
admit  the  main  body  from  without,  and,  after  a  general  mas.sacro,  to 
sei/.e  upon  the  valuable  stores  collected  for  protection.  This  device 
was  betrayed  to  Gladwyn  by  a  squaw  to  whom  he  had  shown  some 
kindness.  The  Indians  were  accordingly  admitted  without  hcsit.i- 
tion,  but  the  troops  were  drawn  up  ready  for  an  attack.  Pontiac 
"heard  tlic  drums  beat,  and  saw  every  soldier '.s  musket  levelled, 
and  the  swords  of  the  oHieers  drawn  and  ready  fur  use.  M:ijor 
Gladwvn,  stcpjiing  to  the  warrior  nearest  him,  lifted  his  blanket,  and 
disclo.<cd  the  shortened  rifle.  lie  then  upbraided  the  sachem  for 
his  intended  villany,  and,  taking  no  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
for  securing  hini,  gave  proof  uf  his  own  high-minded  sense  of  hoi;()ur 
by  dismissing  the  whole  party  unharmed." 

Tiiis  magnaniinify  availed  but  little.  The  Indian.**,  to  the  number 
of  nearly  a  tiiou.saml,  laid  clwe  siege  to  the  fort,  and,  ft^r  monlh.««,  it 
was  only  by  hard  .Ighting,  and  with  heavy  loss,  that  provisions  and 
Btoros  could  Ix;  furnished  from  without.  Many  of  the  captives  taken 
by  the  Indians,  were  put  to  dcatli  with  savage  barbarity.  Thrco 
hundred  men,  commanded  by  a  Captain  Dalyell,  were  sent  to  Detroit 
to  rtinlbrco  the  garrison,  in  the  month  of  July.    With  this  additional 

*  Indian  Races  of  AiochcJi. 


INDIAN    WAKS. 


221 


force  it  was  thought  practic.iblo  to  commence  oflonsivc  operations. 
A  sally  was  made  accordingly,  but  Pontiac  had  by  some  means  gained 
intelligence  of  what  was  about  to  take  place,  and  had  pre])ared  an 
ambush  near  the  bridge  over  Bloody-Kun.  Instead  of  surprising  the 
enemy,  the  whites  were  taken  at  a  comi)letc  disadvantage,  and 
retired  with  the  loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  of  more  than  oue 
hundred  men. 

All  throughout  the  north-western  frontier,  from  the  lakes  to  the 
Ohio  river,  this  consj)iracy  of  the  Indian  tribes  spread  desolation 
and  distress  for  a  whole  year.  Of  the  great  leader  cf  the  confedera- 
tion, we  learn  very  little  after  his  operations  against  Detroit.  In 
the  summer  of  ITO-i,  a  powerful  force,  under  General  Bradstrcet, 
was  marched  into  the  Indian  territory,  and,  by  force  or  treaty,  peace 
w.'iS  established  with  the  various  tribes  of  the  north-west. 

Connected  with  the  events  of  Pontiac's  war,  is  the  account  of  a 
barbarous  outrage  committed  at  Canestoga,  near  Lancaster,  P'innsyl- 
vania.  The  settlers  of  this  portion  of  the  country  were  less  e:;i)0ced 
to  savage  incursions  than  those  establi.shcd  further  towards  the  north- 
west, but  the  reports  constantly  received  of  Indian  massacres  upon 
th:  frontier,  excited  their  minds  to  the  highest  pitch  of  fear  and 
hatred  towards  the  natives,  lleckcwclder  speaks  as  follows  of  the 
character  of  but  too  many  of  the  rough  pioneers  of  the  western 
wilderness:  "I  have  yet  to  notice  a  class  of  people  generally  known 
to  us  by  the  name  of  'backwoods-men,'  many  of  whom,  acting  up 
to  a  pretended  belief  that  'an  Indian  had  no  more  soul  than  a  bui"- 
fa'o;'  and  tliat  to  kill  either  is  the  same  thing;  have,  from  time  to 
time,  by  their  conduct,  brought  great  trouble  and  bloodsiied  on  the 
country.  Such,  then,  1  wi.sh  to  caution  not  to  spurt  in  that  manner 
with  the  lives  of  God's  creatures.  *  *  Believe  that  a  time  will 
como  when  vou  must  account  for  such  vile  deeds!  When  those  who 
have  fallen  a  sacrifice  to  your  wickednes.s,  will  be  called  forth  in 
judgment  against  you  I  Nay,  when  your  own  descendants  will  tes- 
tify agaiiKst  you."  The  truth  of  this  jiredietion  is  strikingly  manifest 
from  the  poj)uIar  feeling  at  the  present  day  respecting  the  Indians, 
their  right.'^,  and  the  treatment  which  they  experienced  at  the  hands 
of  the  early  settlers. 

At  Canestoga,  a.  small  and  peaceable  body  of  Indians  liad  been 
long  cslablialu'd,  under  the  care  and  teaching  of  the  iforaviau  mi* 
sion.  As  fur  as  appears,  they  had  not  the  slightest  connection  with 
the  general  conspiracy,  nor  bad  they  given  any  provocation  for  the 


f 


i.    ; 


222 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


wanton  attack  which  was  made  upon  them.  A  mob  of  more  than 
fifty  men,  from  Paxton,  fell  upon  the  settlement,  in  November,  1703. 
A  portion  of  the  inhabitants  fled  to  Lancaster,  where  they  sought 
an  asylum  in  the  jail-yards.  Those  who  were  left  at  Canestoga — 
men,  women,  and  children — fourteen  in  number,  were  brutally 
murdered.  The  white  savages,  their  cruelty  unsatiated,  then  has- 
tened to  Lancaster,  and,  breaking  open  the  jail,  completed  their  work 
of  destruction.  From  fifteen  to  twenty  perished  in  the  jail-yard, 
where  they  were  seen  by  one  whose  accouat  has  reached  us.  •'  Men, 
women,  and  children,  spread  about  the  prison-yard;  shot — scalDcd 
— backed — and  cut  to  piecea" 

Jonathan  Edwards. — In  1735  there  bopnn  a  most  romarkablo  religious  awakening 
uncle r  the  preaching  of  the  celebrated  Jonathan  Kdwards,  at  Northampton,  which  has 
since  been  designated  as  the  "  great  revival.''*  It  sprea*!  into  mar-'  towns  in  Connecticut, 
and  the  feeling  and  interest  manifested  on  the  great  themes  of  religion  were  intense  and 
absorbing.  This  appears  to  have  been  followed  by  a  period  of  great  religious  declension 
and  formality,  until  1740,  when  a  still  more  general  and  extraordinary  revival  commenced, 
which  spread  throughout  New  England  and  some  of  the  more  southern  and  western 
colonies.  Childliooil,  nianhoo<l,  old  age — the  learned  and  the  ignorant — the  moralist  and 
the  skeptic — men  of  wealth  and  the  higiiest  oflicial  position,  as  well  as  paupers  and  out- 
casts— were  numbered  among  its  eonvrts.  We  are  tolil  that  even  the  Indians,  on  wliom 
no  impression  could  previously  be  m.ade,  became  humble  inquirers  after  the  truth. 

Among  the  most  zealous  and  efficient  lalxjrors  in  the  work  were  Whiteiield,  Edwards, 
and  Tennant,  from  abroad  :  and  AVheeloek,  Bellamy,  Pomeroy,  Mills,  Graham,  Meaehnni, 
Whitman,  and  Farrand,  among  the  pastors  of  Connecticut.  Many  of  the  clergy  of  tlio 
colony,  however,  strenuously  opposed  the  measures  employed  and  the  eflivts  produced  ; 
and  many  of  the  magistnites  and  other  leading  men  joined  with  tliem  in  denouncing  the 
"itincTating  elergj'"  and  their  converts  as  enthusiasts,  new  lights,  and  ranters.  Laws 
were  passed,  with  severe  |>onaltie8,  against  any  clergyman  or  exhortcr  who  should  attempt 
to  preach  in  any  parisii  or  town  without  tho  express  desiro  of  the  pastor  or  people 
thereof. 

•  At  tho  requput  of  Pr.  Wnft«  and  other  Enrjlish  divines,  .Mr.  Edwnnls  wrote  a  nnrrntivc 
of  tin-  "great  revival,"  which  waa  publi»hcd  in  London,  and  has  sineo  been  frequently 
rcpiililiiihcd. 


A 


KV 


s^ 


^ 


ous  awakeninpf 
ton,  wliich  ha3 
in  Connecticut, 
pro  intense  and 
ions  declension 
•al  eommenced, 
•n  and  western 
le  nionilist  and 
mpers  and  oiit- 
lians,  on  whom 
•  trntli. 

Held,  KdwanlH, 

am,  Meachani, 

clerfry  of  tlio 

vts  produced  ; 

nounein^'  tiio 

nters.     Laws 

iliould  attempt 

itor  or  people 

ntn  n  nnrrntivo 
ell  )Vt(piciitl)' 


* 


K^  w 


/ 


v*' 


I 


ll: 


» 

MP 

'^ 

■1^^ 

-i-' 

n 

m 

m 

^ 

\ 

' 

p^. 

M 

K 

--•r 

- '  4 

Ijpgrtft- 

\) 

'' 

1' 

:^  ^^ 

-Ato-'            -    ■ 

'**•%,■ 

-* 

^ 

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') 

\        ;-, 

'.;  ' 

1 

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i 

1> 

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i 

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I         Mi 


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nJUi 


♦  •  .«*»ki  upon  tbcin.  A  ;nob  .  nan*  than 
■•f>  (»*<'n  the  eettlerooiit,  m  Novcrii.^^1*  iTftS. 
•'A*  v^r  tied  to  Laiic-astcr.  where  'hey  i/ht 
.  V  M.  T1h.«o  v.'iio  Vicre  letr  at  i'anostOLa — 
kic^bft'-  souitocn  in  nniuber,  were  brutaily 
■^'^'HilfT.,  th«ir  'Tvclty  (.inaatiated,  then  i.as- 

./,...  .r  '..ork 

■■;«'.-■  '-      •  ■■  •'->'  jn ii.-nijvu  in  tlu3  juil-yaitl, 

*  vrer?  peen  by  one  wf  oount  hap  renchod  is,    "Mtn. 

.  rtiid  ckil-  ren  gpre-id  about  the  prison- yard;  bL  t— scalDod 

-  -a«uJfed — an<i  cat  t<<  pieces." 

'fif*THJiK  Fj>wabi>.s. — In  173.*,  there  betmn  ft  trogt  rtmarkablo  '  "l'-Vus  aTrakfln:n? 

i.-r  ibe  priiJciuiig  .  (  liii«  (•ol6brHU\i  Jonathan  Edwards,  at  Non;„,.ir    'H,  which  bic 

.  L*  fte«4  d^aiji^tiktol  w  iiie  '■  grfeftf.  revival.''*    li  ppreivi  into  mnn y  tow  i„f  iu  Conaecti<. "n, 

•I  tfle  j{reat  tli^mi  3  ..f  ivligiori  ^ffi- ;ntcn»c  and 
tVnv  «i  It  a  (..orfiil  of  frr'-«t  r#ji.'is  i''filcn!-i  ;p 


'd  aTwi  -ir.  ■•.If  ;r>  ».nifi#tf.' 


«^ 


»" 


t*(fl  more  fijUji'ivin  nnd  v  <Ni(.TB 

'■     ''  iSiflU --  lit""  ii;cir,i;W  ;i!j<J 

_  ■•  IX  r--  ii.'i  1  .  -.it 
SI  1       !•'   '  \\i»  r.-i  V.  iiom 
.  ■  .»i    .  |. ,   ir-'t 


ijtH' i*;>\iMf}ig  niMi  j^Mutd  will)  thom  in  •I.m  mi'-:ncr  >!'" 
,Liii>    aUig  s'*>[;_v'   ttHil  lu.  ^f  I  >nT<'rti  a«  euthuisaste,  n«;\^- llphi'',  nnj  rn:  Site.     L.v 
IT    f/«?.>c<J.  j.  itii  tk\'y\*'  fKu  i!iie»<,«pPiuat  uiyclorgymartorexhcTtwvbjf^oiddasUni'!  i 
.  pnNhlt  ill  ri>\-}  pr.r  I,  ,r  '•  wa  v/ithou^  the  exprea  desiro  of  tlit  p. »tor  or  ^ 


-n 


"if  I»r.  W-  Ia-  (iril'V'her  I'lirVmh  iltvlnod.  Mr  WmirHli'  Trmw  a  r>erta 


#* 


M 


^ 


^ 


:«#**  f  han 

U'';^^  i768. 

hey  f  i>iht 
nnostrw  J — 
e  brutally 
,  thrn  i.as- 
tiicir  \.  ork 
3  jail-yai^l, 

13.      "MfG. 

t — Bcali))'d 

lus  awak«i  n? 

>n,  which  k^:' 

lu  CoDaecti"  nv. 

^'  ^ntonw.-  n.id 

.'J  crimlMplb'd. 

■  ii<  r--'  ;i.'i  !  .  .it 
!  l!i.-<  f  A  V.  'uom 
lr»' 

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y  ft'  Ih* 

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lor  ,  i 


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th 

ni( 
ira 
ha 
wl 
be 
aff 
sh 
foi 

th( 
ni( 

CO 

ist 
dil 

je 
rei 
dc 
so 
in( 
pi 


EUROPEAN  COLONIAL  P  'LlCy. 


aPANISn   AND   EXGLISn   RESTEICTIOXS   UPON   TRADE   AND   COM- 
MERCE.—  CONTRABAND    TRAFFIC. THE   "ASSIENTO"    TREATY. 

THE  SLATE-TRADE:   ITS  GENERAL   POPULARITY:   CAUSES 

WHICH  LEAD  TO  THE  ABOLITION  OF  SLAVERY:  MANNER  OF 

PROCURING    NEGROES   FROM   AFRICA:    PROFIT  OF   THE 

TRADE:  NUMBERS  BROUGHT  OVER    ENGLLSH  LAW  UPON 

THE   SUBJECT   OF   SLAVERY. INTRODUCTION   01 

WHITE  APPRENTICES,  OE  "EEDEMPTIONERS." 

It  is  difficult,  at  the  present  day,  to  comprehend  the  blindness  ot 
the  European  nations  to  their  own  interests,  and  those  of  their  colo- 
nies, as  exhibited  in  the  prohibitions  and  restrictions  once  universally 
imposed  upon  trade  and  commerce.  Experienced  politicians  must 
have  foreseen  the  probable  tendency  of  that  short-sighted  policy 
which,  for  the  sake  of  present  gain,  was  willing  to  destroy  all  identity 
between  the  parent  states  and  their  colonies,  and  to  alienate  the 
affections  of  a  vast  population,  whose  lo3-alty,  gratitude,  and  friend- 
ship, by  the  exercise  of  a  little  forbearance,  might  have  been  retained 
for  many  generations. 

"Wc  have  had  occasion,  elsewhere,  to  speak  more  particularly  of 
the  insufferable  tyranny  of  Spain  in  all  the  dealings  with  her  colo- 
nics: in  those  of  England,  although  the  domestic  privileges  of  the 
community  were  not  so  openly  and  grossly  violated,  there  yet  ex- 
isted restraints  on  manufactures  and  trade,  which,  considering  the 
difference  in  natural  character,  were  hardly  less  galling.  The  most 
jealous  care  was  taken  to  discourage  the  development  of  all  internal 
resources  which  might  interfere  with  British  manuflvcturc  or  ])ro 
ducc;  British  vessels  must  be  employed,  and  an  English  market 
sought,  regardless  of  the  interests  of  the  merchant  and  the  require- 
ments of  trade.  Individual  selfishness  alone  can  account  for  the 
pursuance  of  such  a  policy,  and  we  must  conclude  that  those  in 
Vol.  IV.— 43 


.^    *  * a.i^^jr... 


BAiitifaUa^  i^ditti^ 


224 


'AMKKli   A    IlJASTllATED. 


power  foresaw  tlie  consequences  of  their  proceedings,  but  trusted  to 
reap  tlic  benefits  in  tlieir  own  persons,  leaving  retribution  to  bo 
visited  upon  their  posterity. 

The  temptations  lield  out  to  the  contraband  trader  were  suffi- 
ciently great  for  the  incurrence  of  heavy  risks,  and  the  connivance 
of  the  home  government  at  sueli  irregularities,  so  far  as  they  only 
ailectcd  the  interest  of  a  rival  nation,  gave  sjiecial  impetus  to  their 
commission.  Severities  practised  upon  offenders  when  detected, 
and  mutual  ln^stility  engendered  by  continual  conflict  of  claims, 
resulted  in  wars  between  the  old  countries,  the  burden  of  which  fell 
most  heavily  upon  tlie  infant  colonies,  whoso  whole  energies  were 
required  to  overcome  the  natural  difficulties  of  their  situation. 

By  the  "assicnto"  treaty,  the  privileges  of  which  were  made  over 
to  the  celebrated  South  Sea  Company,  Spain  conceded  to  England 
a  limited  right  to  transport  slaves  into  the  colonies  of  the  former 
nation.  This  gave  great  impetus  to  the  traffic,  and  so  far  was  the 
community  blinded  by  present  interest  to  the  claims  of  humanity 
and  true  policy,  that  it  was  generally  "accounted  a  genteel  employ- 
ment," reflecting  no  discredit  upon  those  who  systematically  pursued 
it.  It  is  a  singular  thing  how  fur  the  o^iinions  of  men,  and  how 
much  farther  their  conduct,  receive  direction  from  custom.  ILjw- 
ever  much  we  may  condemn  t  iic  evils  of  a  system,  before  denouncing 
its  individual  suj)porter3,  we  should  do  well  to  inquire  what  would 
have  been  our  own  course  of  conduct  had  we  passed  our  lives  subject 
to  the  same  influences,  and  dependent  upon  the  same  interests. 
Statistics  of  the  proportion  of  those  who  have  freed  their  slaves, 
during  their  oini  lives,  from  conscientious  scruples,  as  compared  with 
the  whole  slave-holding  population,  would  furnish  every  man  with 
a  fair  criterion  for  estimating  the  extent  of  his  own  disintcrestednes.s. 
The  treatment  of  slaves  is,  of  course,  as  variant  as  the  character  of 
their  owners,  but  where  the  institution  of  slavery  exists,  all,  with  u 
few  rare  exceptions,  who  can  avail  themselves  of  its  convenience, 
openly  support  it. 

In  the  Xorthcrn  United  States  it  existed  until  the  influx  of  free 
labourers  reduced  the  value  of  slave-labour,  and  created  a  major- 
ity in  the  community  of  those  whose  interests  were  directly  opj)osed 
to  the  ccMitinuance  of  the  system.  We  may  venture  to  predict  that 
no  other  influence  than  this  will  ever  avail  to  produce  a  similar 
result  in  the  southern  states.  Self-interest,  when  directly  appealed 
to,  must  ever  prevail  with  the  majority,  until  mankind  shall  have 


•uskel  to 
lU  to  bo 

:rc  sufll- 
iinivance 
liey  only 
to  their 
detected, 
f  cluiins, 
rliieli  fell 
ries  were 
un. 

ladc  over 
England 
ic  former 
r  wa3  the 
liunmnity 
1  eniploy- 
y  jjurriued 
and  how 
II  ow- 
nouncing 
at  would 
cs  subject 
interests, 
ir  slaves, 
,rcd  with 
nan  with 
stednoss. 
raetcr  of 
11,  with  a 
,'cniencc, 

|x  of  free 

[U  major- 
opposed 

idiet  that 
similar 

tijipealed 
all  have 


COLONIAL  roLiCY. 


225 


made  an  advance  in  benevolence  and  a  sense  of  justice,  beyond  any 
present  indications. 

The  manner  of  procuring  negroes  on  the  African  coa^t,  and  of 
their  conve\-ancc  to  the  shores  of  America,  has  undergono  no  mate- 
rial change  from  the  period  of  their  first  introduction  to  il; ;  present 
day.  The  extent  of  coast  upon  whicli  they  can  be  proeurcd,  and 
the  convenience  of  legal  markets,  have  indeed  been  curtailed;  but 
the  unfortunates  now  brought  over  to  the  island  of  Cub;i,  arc  pro- 
cured by  the  same  species  of  traffic,  confined  in  the  same  limited 
epace  on  their  jtassage,  and  subject  to  the  same  sufferings  from  sbort 
allowance  and  tempestU'  is  weather,  as  in  former  times.  Still  are 
children  kidnapped  by  .strangers  or  sold  by  their  re]ati(jn.-';  the  same 
rude  regulations  still  render  one  negro  a  slave  to  his  fellow  in  hia 
native  land;*  one  tribe  may  yet,  as  of  old,  make  war  upon  another, 
upon  the  annual  unfolding  of  a  certain  flower,  fur  tlic  sake  of  pro- 
curing prisoners. 

The  trale,  carried  on  mostly  by  British  merchants,  proved  as 
pro.ltable  to  the  ship-owners  as  acceptable  to  the  colon i.sls.  It  is 
com{)utcd  that  no  less  than  three  hundred  thousand  nc^^rocs  were 
imported  into  the  original  states  during  their  continuance  as  colonies. 
A  vastly  larger  number  were  brought  over  in  English  Ijottoms,  to 
the  French  and  Spanish  colonies.  Mr.  Bancroft's  estimate  is  as  fol- 
lows: ''We  shall  not  err  very  much,  if,  for  tke  century  previous  to 
the  prohibition  of  the  slave-trade  by  the  American  congress,  in 
1770,  we  a.ssume  the  number  imported  by  the  Engli.Mi  into  tlic 
Spanish,  French,  and  English  West  Indies,  as  well  as  tlio  English 
continental  colonies,  to  have  been,  collectively,  nearly  Lliree  mil- 
lions ;  to  which  are  to  be  added  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  million 
purchased  in  Africa,  aii<l  thrown  into  the  Atlantic  on  the  pas.sage. 
The  gross  returns  to  Engli.sh  merchants  for  the  whole  traiVic  in  that 
number  of  slaves,  may  have  been  not  fur  from  four  hundred  jnlllious 
of  dollars." 

The  question  as  to  the  exact  bearing  of  the  laws  of  England  upon 

♦A  ne^o  having  a  lien  upon  his  own  Lrutlier,  for  a  debt,  or  sonic  ntlier  cause, 
brouglit  liim  on  board  a  slaver,  and  conoluJed  a  bargain  lor  liiin.  .As  ihu  vendor, 
however,  was  about  to  leave  tlie  vessel,  he  was  informed  that  lie  llli^'llt  keep  his 
brother  company,  and  was  presently  clapped  under  hatches  willi  tit;  rest.  The 
Rev.  John  Newton,  who  w.as  long  engaged  in  tlio  slave-trade,  as  master  c(  a  vessel, 
•ays:  "'It  often  happens  tiiat  the  man  wlio  sells  another  on  bnanl  a  ship,  is  himself 
bonglit  and  sold  in  the  same  manner,  and  perliaps  in  the  s;inie  vi  ..sel,  before  the 
week  is  ended." 


226 


AMERICA  ILLUSH:  ■  FED. 


the  subject  of  slavery,  was  long  a  q.u  -■'..  le,-  ta.  The  institution 
had  a  gradual  origin  by  custom,  scarcciy  recognizeil,  and  never 
directly  sujiported  by  legislative  enactments.  Id  the  courts  great 
difference  of  opinion  prevailed,  but  the  general  legality  of  the  system 
was  maintained  by  their  decisions,  it  being  declared  a  valid  custom. 
As  has  been  remarked,  such  a  custom  would  hardly  possess  all  the 
requisites  for  validity  laid  down  by  Blackstone,  viz:  that  it  should 
be  a  "good  custom,"  for  '■^ mains  nsiis  ahoJendus  edf^  that  it  should 
have  existed  "so  long  that  the  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the 
contrary;"  that  it  should  have  been  "continued,"  without  inter- 
ruption; that  it  should,  be  "peaceable,"  "reasonable,"  "certain," 
"compulsory,"  and  "consistent." 

About  the  middle  of  the  past  century,  the  slave-trade,  freed  from 
restrictive  laws,  recognized  in  its  legality  by  decisions  of  courts,  and 
open  to  every  adventurer,  flourished  to  an  extent  never  known  before 
or  since.  The  trade  was  the  object  of  special  attention  to  the  British 
government,  by  which  the  forts  on  the  coast  of  Africa  were  main- 
tained. Slaves  were  even  allowed  to  be  taken  to  England,  and  the 
right  of  their  masters  to  hold  them  in  servitude  on  British  soil  was 
definitely  acknowledged  by  the  most  able  judicial  authorities. 

Notwithstanding  the  immense  importation  of  negroes,  the  constant 
call  for  lahourers  was  met,  especially  in  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania, 
by  the  immigration  of  apprentices,  or  "redemptioners,"  being  whites 
of  the  poorer  class,  who  were  bound  to  service  for  a  term  of  years. 
To  these,  grants  of  land  and  temporary  supplies  were  secured  by 
law  at  the  end  of  their  term,  but  during  its  continuance  they  wore 
substantially  in  the  condition  of  slaves. 


THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION 


Vi    ^l^lM     lirJw     tif        Uf      JU     Ju  U  Ufa 


QBXERAL  RIGHTS  OP  COLOXIES. — EARLY  CAUSES  OF  COMPLAINT 
IN     AMERICA.  —  AEBITRARY     CUSTOM     LAWS.  —  ILLEGAL 
CONDUCT  OP  EXGLI-Sli  OFFICIALS. — ACTS  IN  REGULA- 
TION OF  TRADE. EXPENSES  OF  THE  LATE  WARS  IN 

AMERICA. — THE   "SUGAR- ACT."  —  OPPOSITION 
AND   REM0X.STI1ANCE  IN   THE  COLONIES. 


i 


llow  have  words  been  mu]ti])lic(l  in  vain  attempts  to  apply  prin- 
ciples of  ab.stract  right  to  political  movements,  and  how  much  more 
vainly  has  tlie  search  been  made  for  principles  of  universal  applica- 
tion in  that  imeertaia  code  of  maxims  known  as  the  law  of  nations. 
In  a  question  between  two  communities,  there  is  usually  no  tribunal, 
and  they  mu.«t  severally  do  what  is  "right  in  their  own  eyes,"  pro- 
vided it  be,  at  the  same  time,  practicable.  Of  all  political  questions, 
perhaps  tiie  most  unsettled,  is  that  concerning  the  rights  of  colonies. 

It  was  said  by  Ilutcheson,  in  1755,*  that  colonics  "have  a  right 
to  be  released  from  the  dominion  of  the  parent  state,"  "whenever 
they  are  so  increased  in  numbers  and  strength  as  to  be  sufllcient  by 
themselves  for  all  the  gotid  ends  of  a  political  union."  Simply,  that 
whenever  they  have  the  will,  and,  in  their  own  opinion,  the  power, 
to  stand  alone,  the  right  follow*,  of  course.  The  case  is  similar  to 
that  of  a  child  seeking  release  from  parental  control :  in  a  state  of 
nature  he  will  do  this  when  he  has  attained  suflicicnt  strength  and 
self-dependence;  bn'..  for  convenience  and  certainty,  a  time  has  been 
arbitrarily  set  by  society  for  his  emancipation.  As  regards  states, 
no  such  time  has  been,  or  can  be  established,  because  its  occurrence 
must  always  depend  upon  questions  of  fact,  for  the  decision  of 
which  there  is,  as  before  mentioned,  no  tribunal.    The  question  must 

•  Banerofl's  llktory  of  the  United  States. 


22S 


A  M  E  K  I  C  A    1 1. 1,  L  .S  T  i;  A  T  E  D . 


ulwavs  r>:iiain  merely  a  question  of  ability,  until  the  Utopian  tlieory 
of  an  international  code  and  court  shall  have  bccu  reduced  to 
practice. 

The  ojiinion  of  the  world  has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  called  to  be 
passed  f.pon  the  violent  rupture  of  the  connection  between  a  parent 
state  a::'l  its  colony',  while  the  inhabitants  u'  the  latter  were  in  the 
enjoyi;;c:.t  of  equal  privileges  and  favour  with  those  of  the  former. 
A  feeling  of  afl'ociion  and  natural  pride  commonly  causes  them  to 
cling  to  the  land  of  their  parentage  until  a  long  course  of  extortion 
and  oj  j'ression  has  rendered  the  tie  too  onerous  to  be  endured. 

lu  America,  the  English  colonies  had  submitted — not,  it  is  true, 
without  murmurs — to  the  most  arbitrary  restrictions  upon  manufoc- 
turcs  in  which  they  might  profitably  have  engaged,  imposed  simply 
to  compel  importation  from  England.  A  steady,  and,  in  most  cases, 
an  cfiVctual  stand  iiad  been  made  against  the  reiterated  demand  of  a 
fixed  ."^alary  for  the  royal  governors.  Burdensome  restrictions  upon 
foreign  trade  were  protested  against,  and  extensively  evaded  by 
contrabaiiil  trafTic.  This  gave  occasion  fur  arbitrary  proceedings  by 
tlie  cfliccrs  of  tlic  customs  in  searching  for  smuiiLrled  goods.  Their 
conduct,  in  this  respect,  appearing  to  be  illegal,  they  sought  the  aid 
of  the  superior  courts  of  law,  and  "  writs  of  a.«:sistance,"  in  the  nature 
of  .search-warrants,  Averc  accordingly  issued.  The  power  of  the  court 
to  issue  thc-c  writs  was  called  in  (piestion,  ami  tested  in  ^^assachu• 
chusettH,  in  1701.  The  eloquent  James  Otis,  and  the  learned  jurist, 
Oxenbridgc  Thatcher,  argued  sucressfully  against  their  validity. 

The  question,  by  this  time,  had  come  to  be  widely  agitated,  as  to 
the  pnbable  tendency  of  the  continual  encroachments  upon  the  lib- 
erties <>f  the  colonies.  The  legislatures  of  tlie  dilfercnt  provinces, 
elected  by  a  systi'm  more  nearly  flpi^roacliing  universal  sufTrage 
than  any  ever  known  in  England,  indulged  in  freedom  of  thought 
and  exjTcssion,  denounced  as  treasonable  and  rebellious  in  the  parent- 
country.  The  duties  and  imposts  which  had  been  submitted  to  for 
along  t<-rm  of  years  as  being  "regulations  of  trade,"  for  the  protection 
of  the  Uritish  West  India  islands,  and  other  collateral  purpo.se.H,  and, 
therefore,  within  the  proi>or  jurisdiction  of  the  board  of  trade  v.hen 
direct  d  immediately  towards  the  enlargement  of  revenue,  excited 
universal  disalfi'ction  and  indignation. 

The  recent  wars  had  enormously  increased  the  public  debt,  jtnd 
Engli.sh  j)()litician8  were  busily  engaged  in  framing  schemes  by 
which  iIjc  American  colonies  should  share  the  burden  of  expense 


THE    AMEUICAN    REVOLUTION. 


229 


incurred,  as  was  averred,  expressly  for  their  benefit.  On  tlie  other 
hand,  it  was  claimed  that  the  colonies  had  already  contributed  moro 
than  their  proportion  towards  these  expenses;  tliat,  being  frequently 
the  scat  of  war,  they  had,  in  other  respects,  felt  its  calamities  far 
more  heavily  than  the  people  of  England;  and  that  the  latter  coun- 
try, by  reason  of  its  immense  income  from  the  restricted  colonial 
trade,  was  as  directly  and  pecuniarily  interested  in  maintaining  and 
protecting  the  provinces  from  foreign  encroachment  as  were  tlic 
inhabitants  themselves. 

It  was,  moreover,  evident  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  any  man 
to  foretell  to  what  extremes  government  might  eventually  proceed 
in  the  imposition  of  taxes  ui)on  a  distant  community,  in  no  way 
represented  in  the  legislature,  whose  condition  and  capabilities  could 
never  be  fully  understood  in  Kngland,  and  whose  growing  resonrocs 
would  indubitably  be  met  by  a  still  more  rapid  increase  of  exaction. 
AVhat  had  been  accomi)lished,  had  been  by  sufferance,  and  under 
protest;  it  remained  for  the  open  extfMision  of  duties  for  revenue 
purposes,  and  the  attempted  imjiosition  of  a  direct  tnx,  to  rouso  to 
flame  the  discontent  already  kindled. 

In  the  spring  of  17(51,  George  Grenville,  chancellor  of  the  exche- 
quer, introduced  and  carried  an  act  in  alteration  of  the  former  rate 
of  imposts  upon  West  Tiulia  goods,  &e.,  by  which,  while  the  <lulie3 
on  certain  articles  were  rcdiiccd,  the  restrictions  were  extended  to 
French  and  East  India  produce,  and  to  various  foreign  articles  of 
luxury.  The  anticipateil  diflieulty  of  enforcing  the  new  tariff,  was 
met  by  a  provision  extending  the  powers  and  jurisdiction  of  the 
courts  of  admiralty.  At  the  same  time,  he  laid  before  parliament  a 
proposal,  to  be  acted  upon  at  a  future  session,  for  the  ctilargemont 
of  the  revenue  by  the  collection  of  duties  upon  wtaniped  pnper. 
There  seems,  at  this  period,  to  have  been  scarcely  the  shadow  of 
opposition  in  the  British  legislature,  to  tlie  gen(Tal  principle  of  the 
right  to  impose  discretionary  taxes  upon  the  colonics.  One  jirincipal 
object  in  the  scheme  for  levying  a  direct  and  additional  asscssnient, 
was  to  provide  means  for  the  permanent  sujiport  of  a  military  estab- 
lishment in  America;  thus  to  compel  the  people  to  furnish  means 
for  their  own  enslavement,  ami  for  the  enforcing  of  whatever  future 
tvrannioal  enactments  might  result  from  the  necessities  or  avarice  of 
the  British  government. 

The  "sugar-act,"  as  the  new  law  respecting  customs  was  culled, 
excited  the  utmost  dissatisfaction,  especially  in '     •.  jrthorn  colonies^ 


230 


AMKiri.    A    II.l.l  STRATEP, 


1 


a  feeling  heightened  and  extended  by  the  intimation  of  the  intended 
stamp  act,  ^vhieh  aecom|'anicd  ius  pa&sage.  The  subject  was  dis- 
cussed in  the  colonial  legislatures,  and  letters  of  instruction  were 
prepared  for  their  agents  in  England,  breathing  the  strongest  spirit 
of  ojiposition.  In  these  debates,  in  the  jXJtitions  and  remonstrances 
forwarded  to  the  home  government,  and  in  the  writings  of  Otis, 
Thatcher,  and  other  distinguished  or  rising  politicians,  the  same 
principles  were  strenuously  maintained  and  ably  argued.  Appeals 
to  every  man's  individual  sense  of  justice;  reference  to  righLs  secured 
by  magna  eharta,  I  ^he  special  charters  of  the  provinces,  and  by 
the  maxims  of  En^.  .ah  common  law;  and  representations  of  the 
extent  to  which  experience  had  shown  that  the  colonics  would 
assume  their  just  share  of  the  burden  of  government,  were  urged 
with  zeal,  energy,  and  ability. 

Few,  if  any,  yet  sjwke  of  opon  resistance  to  the  f>ower  of  parlia- 
ment, but  succcodiiig  events  proved  that  public  sentiment  must 
have  been  rapidly  ])reparing  for  such  an  extremity. 


LnAFxJLjli     il. 


IHE  STAMP  ACT     A  K  G  T  M  F  N  T  IN  THE  HOUSE  OP  COMMONS    PASS 
ACR  op  THK    BIM,     ITS   FFrPri  IN  THE  COLONIES RESOLU- 
TIONS  IN   THF   VIUOINIA   ASSEMBLY  — PATUICK  HENKT. — 
PHOCEEKINOS  IN  MASSACHUSETTS     POPULAR  TUMULTS 
ItKSlGN  ATION    OF    THE    STaMP    OFFICERS. 


In  the  month  of  February,  17<5.^,  the  irni)ortant  act,  providing  for 
the  increase  of  revenue  by  stamp  duties  in  America,  was  introducod 
into  the  House  of  Commons.  }\y  its  provision."*  all  legal  documenti*, 
promis.sory  notes,  deed.s,  commercial  papers,  f»flieial  certificates,  &c., 
&c.,  must  be  written  upon  pij  er  that  had  received  a  government 
stamp,  and  on  which  fi.xed  duties  li.ad  I)cen  j»aid.  Of  all  that  waa 
said  in  arj-Mimcnt  upon  the  merits  f>f  the  bill,  nothing  excited  more 
general  attention,  in  the  community,  tluin  a  short  speech  by  Colonel 
Isaac  Harre. 

Tliia  member  had  seen  s«.'r\'icc  in  America,  during  the  French  war, 
md,  familiar  himself  with  the  character  and  condition  of  the  |)copIe, 


TlIK   AMERICAN    KEVOLUTION. 


231 


he  expressed  a  becoming  disgust  at  llio  ignorance  in  regard  to  the 
colonics  winch  characterized  tlic  speeches  ol'  several  suj)})orter3  of  the 
bill.  'i";o  eloquent  Charles  Townshend  spoke  in  its  favour,  and  con- 
cluded his  remarks  with  an  iiKjuiry,  whether  the  colonists  could 
presume  to  refuse  aid  to  the  parent-country,  by  whoso  protection 
they  tilone  hud  maintained  their  existence,  and  arrived  at  a  position 
of  comparative  wealth  aiid  importance. 

liarn';  rose,  and,  with  great  animulioJi,  exposed  the  fallacy  of  the 
declaration,  lie  pointed  out  brielly  the  real  i>rigin  of  emigration  to 
America,  the  unaided  efforts  and  sufferings  of  the  early  colonists  in 
establishing  a  civilized  comnuinity  in  the  wilderness,  the  neglect 
that  they  had  experienced  at  the  hands  of  the  home  government, 
their  readiness  in  taking  up  airus  in  a  national  cause,  their  expenses 
and  their  losses  by  the  continued  wars.  "I  claim,"  continued  he, 
"to  know  more  of  America  than  most  of  you,  having  seen  and  been 
conversant  with  thi't  country.  The  peoj)lc,  I  believe,  are  as  truly 
loyal  as  any  subjects  the  king  has;  but  a  people  jealous  of  their  lib- 
erties, and  who  will  vin<licate  them  if  ever  they  should  be  violated." 

The  stamp  act  pa.s.-ed  the  house  of  cv^iumons  vn  the  27th  of  Feb- 
ruary ;  a  lew  dnys  later,  the  house  of  lords  concur'  ed  w  ithout  debate ; 
and  the  bill  received  a  <juasi  assontTrom  the  deranged  intellect  of 
George  III.  'J'o  make  the  obnoxious  measure  more  tolerabU>,  it 
was  providcil  that  all  revenues  to  be  derived  from  it,  should  be 
expended  exclusively  for  colonial  purposes.  Other  conciliatory 
enactment.'^,  m  the  form  of  bounties  upon  importations,  and  tue 
rem(wal  of  sundry  bunh  nsome  restrictions,  were  also  resorted  to  iia 
an  olfcet  to  the  first  imposition  of  a  direct  tax.  It  v  aH  generally 
sujiposcd,  in  Kngland,  tlnit  the  ',  .asuro  would  be  carried  out  with- 
out a  sign  of  forcible  oi)pv_>^ition. 

The  tone  of  public  ])ro(odur(  in  the  colonie?*,  upon  receij)t  of 
intelligence  that  tiie  act  had  patscd,  was  ^ronerally  moderate;  but  the 
jia-ssions  and  indignation  '  ''  tho  people,  fully  aroused,  were  only 
awaiting  fit  opportunity  lo  break  lortli  in  overt  resistance.  In  Vir- 
ginia, the  legislature  was  in  scis.on  at  the  time,  bitt  its  leading  mcin- 
\HiTs  held  aloof  from  Uikiug  active  ineaaures  in  opj)Osition.  It  waa 
reserved  for  a  young  man  who  had  but  recently  taken  his  seat  in 
tiie  liou.S(',  to  introduce  and  support  a  series  of  resolutions,  sotting 
fi»rth  col»)niiil  riirht.^,  and  protesting  again.><l  their  propo.sed  invaMo.i. 
It  i.H  a  (lingular  fa<'t,  <'nncerning  tiione  who,  in  Ui*  timcH,  have  possessed 
to  iti*  greate.'<t  exte'it  the  wonderful  u'ili  of  elixpi'Mice,  that  little  or  noth- 


.< 'I 


232 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


ing  lias  been  recorded  which  may  enable  us  to  judge  of  their  powers, 
excepting  the  cfiect  of  their  speeches.  An  audience  carried  away  by 
admiration  and  sympathetic  excitement,  is  in  no  condition  to  remem- 
ber and  perpetuate  the  form  of  cxprcpsion  by  which  the  tumult  of 
feeling  is  aroused.  It  has  been  reserved  for  those  who,  like  Cicero, 
have  nicely  remodelled  their  productions  to  meet  the  cool  criticism 
of  a  reader,  to  be  held  up  as  patterns  for  imitation.  The  flow  of 
forcible  and  unpremeditated  words,  by  which  a  crowd  of  men,  pos- 
sessing every  variety  of  character  and  temperament,  is  moved  to 
unanimity,  if  here  and  there  reported  in  detached  sentence.^,  loses 
all  the  force  lent  by  the  occasion,  the  state  of  mind  of  the  auditory, 
and  the  manner  of  the  speaker. 

Such  has  been  the  case,  in  many  instances,  with  the  most  cele- 
brated efforts  of  Burr,  Randolph,  and  others;  such,  upon  the  occa- 
sion of  which  wc  have  just  spoken,  was  that  of  Patrick  Henry.  We 
are  only  told  that,  in  tones  of  lx>ld  warning,  he  broke  forth,  in  the 
heat  of  argument,  with  the  expressions:  "Ctcsar  had  Ins  Brutus — 
diaries  the  First  his  Cromwell — and  George  the  Third"  (here  ho 
was  interrupted  by  a  cry  of  Treason!  from  the  speaker  and  many 
members,  but  he  firmly  continued) — "may  profit  by  their  example. 
Tf  that  be  treason,  make  the  most  of  it!" 

The  resolutions  were  passed,  after  vehement  debate:  the  conclud- 
ing section,  which  read  as  follows,  by  a  majority  of  one  only:  "Re- 
solved, therefore,  that  the  General  As.sembly  of  this  colony  have  the 
sole  right  and  power  to  lay  taxes  and  impositions  upon  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  colony;  and  that  every  attempt  to  vest  such  power  in 
any  jterson  or  persons  whatsoever,  other  than  the  general  assembly 
aforesaid,  has  a  manifest  tendency  to  destroy  British  as  well  as 
American  freedon.."  This  resolution  was  afterwards  struck  out 
upon  a  reconsideration,  during  the  absence  of  Henry,  but  it  had 
already  gone  abroad,  and  was  circulated  throughout  the  colonies. 

In  Ma-ssachusctt",  a  more  important  measure  was  adojitcd,  at  the 
suggestion  of  James  Otis.  Letters  were  dispatched  to  the  general 
as.seinbli('s  of  all  the  ••  i--—  te  colonies,  requesting  and  advising  tlic 
appointment  of  a  con.; ..  ;•  .  from  each,  to  meet  at  New  York  in  tlie 
ensuing  month  of  October,  an«l  dclil)erate  upon  what  could  be  done 
for  the  general  good  f/f  the  country.  No  allusion  was  made  to  any 
pmposed  wriinn  for  pur|)o^  n^istjuice.  o^hcr  than  the  organization 

©fa  "unitrd  represents  n  to  iniplore  rt'liof"  The  call  was  firsi 
Tpponde*]  to  by  the  Wgialutiire  of  S«/utli  Carolina. 


TUK    AMERICAN   KEVOLUTION. 


2'^"- 


oo 


By  tliis  time,  tlic  spccclies  of  Barr(?,  of  Ilcnr}',  of  Oti;»,  and  others, 
the  Virginia  resolutions,  the  call  of  ^fas.sachusetts,  and  the  reiterated 
arguments  of  political  writers  on  both  sides  the  question,  were 
fjxniiliar  to  the  whole  people  of  America,  and  oceui)ied  universal 
attention,  A  (question,  at  first  committed  to  the  management  of  the 
learned  and  intelligent,  assumed  n  new  aspect  when  brought  home 
to  the  minds  of  an  excited  populace. 

Those  residents  of  the  colonies  who  had  favoured  the  passage  of 
the  act,  and  those  who  had  received  appointment  to  the  oflice  of 
distribution  of  stamps,  first  felt  the  weight  of  lawless  popular  indig- 
nation. It  seemed  to  be  generally  determined  that  all  the  stamp 
ofiieers  should  be  compelled  to  resign,  by  personal  violence,  should 
persuasion  fail. 

The  first  of  a  succession  of  mad  scenes — conducted,  however,  sys- 
tematically, and  with  deliberate  ])urpose — took  place  at  Boston,  on 
the  llth  of  August,  (17(55.)  Andrew  Oliver,  the  appointed  stamp 
distributor,  was  hung  in  effigy  upon  a  noted  tree,  known  as  the 
Boston  elm.  In  the  evenincr,  the  image  was  burned,  with  the  frag- 
ments  of  a  building,  supposed  to  be  in  process  of  erection  for  a 
stamp  oiTiee,  in  the  presence  of  an  immense  concourse.  Oliver  per- 
ceived, from  the  demeanour  of  the  crowd,  that  his  only  safety  con- 
sisted in  compliance  with  the  popular  demand,  and  be  resigned  his 
ofilee  accordingly. 

The  onTiee  of  the  court  of  admiraltv,  rendered  obnoxious  bv  the 
provisions  of  the  "sugar  act,"  was  next  attacked.  On  the  night  of 
the  2()th,  the  records  were  destroyed,  and  the  house  of  Story,  comp- 
troller of  cr.stoms,  was  broken  open,  and  his  furniture  demolished. 
Ilutehinson,  the  lieutenant-governor,  suffered  similar  or.lrago  uj)on 
his  property  <ni  the  same  night.  This  officer  had  become  unpopular 
from  various  circumstances,  but  the  jirincipal  cry  against  him,  at 
this  time,  was  for  having  favoured  the  stamp  act. 

The  example  of  Massachusetts  was  followed  in  Rhode  Island,  New 
York,  and  New  Jer.<ey,  and  with  similar  results.  The  stamp  dis- 
tributor of  Maryland  fled  from  popular  violence  to  New  York. 
On  inany  of  these  oceasit^ns,  the  active  agents  were  not  the  most 
rcspeetabi';  portion  of  the  community,  but,  except  where  they  over- 
stepped the  bounds  of  reason,  and  wantonly  invaded  private  pro])- 
crty,  their  proceedings  met  with  general  favour.  All  attempts  j.t 
bringing  ijiittvidu.il.s  of  the  rioters  to  account  for  the  outragcj  com- 
mitted, were  rioon  abandoned. 


■■■■-m^ 


T\ 


234 


AMKinCA   ILLUSTKATED. 


The  other  colonies  exhibited  the  same  state  of  public  sentiment, 
and  the  ofiicers  commissioned  to  distribute  stamps,  either  declined 
serving,  or  gave  such  public  })lcdgcs  as  satisfied  the  people.  It  was 
clain  that  no  stamps  would  be  allowed  to  be  sold.  Ingersoll,  the 
stamp  ofTicer  for  Connecticut,  at  first  refused  to  submit  to  the  popu- 
lar requisition,  announcing  his  intention  of  submitting  the  matter  to 
the  general  assembly.  He  ^va3  on  his  way  to  Hartford,  for  that 
purpose,  when  he  was  intercepted,  near  Wcthersficld,  by  a  body  of 
some  hundreds  of  the  substantial  inhabitants  of  the  colony,  who,  in 
military  array,  although  armed  oidy  with  staves,  required  of  him 
an  immediate  resignation.  The  object  of  the  company  was  to  avoid 
the  disagreeable  consequences  of  any  action  by  the  assembly — as  the 
colony  might  be  held  responsible  for  its  public  acts,  while,  as  indi- 
viduals, they  felt  little  apprehension  of  any  dangerous  results  from 
their  proceedings,  Ingersoll  betravd  no  unworthy  pusillanimity; 
but  when  he  })crceived  the  dctenninalion  of  the  i)eople  to  jtrevent 
him  from  communicating  with  the  assembly,  and  even  to  jiroceed 
to  personal  violence,  should  he  refuse  to  accede  1o  their^  demands, 
he  signed  a  written  resignation,  and,  at  the  direction  of  the  crowd, 
shouted  for  "Liberty  and  i)roperty.'' 

Of  the  j>ackages  of  stamped  jiaper  which  arrived  in  the  country, 
some  were  seized  and  destroyed  by  the  jjopulace,  and  the  rest  re- 
mained packed  and  unnoticed. 


uXX/iarjiiLi>n    IIJL. 


1-    V 


SESSION  OP  TlIK  FIRST  AMERICAN  CONGRESS:   MODERATE  TONI 
OF    ITS    PROCEEDINGS:     CONCURRENCE   OF   THE    SEPARATE 
.COLONIES. — THE   STAMP   ACT    Ni'OATORY.  —  THE    ENG- 
LISH MINISTRY.  —  DEBATE  IN  PARLIAMENT.  —  SPEECH 

'^y     PITT.  —  EXAMINATION     OV     FRANKLIN. 

REPEAL    OF    THE    STAMP    ACT. 


, ,  i- 


On  thf  7th  of  October,  17tl."),  ilie  first  American  congrcs.s  assem- 
bled at  New  Vork.  A  regular  delegation  was  present  from  six  of 
the  colonies,  viz:  Massaehu.^etts,  Khode  Island,  CoiuuT'tieut,  Penu- 
Kylvania,  Maryland,  and  South  Carolina:  Kew  York,  Delaware,  and 


la   1  f 


THE   AilEKICAN    i:  EVOLUTION. 


235 


Nov/  Jersey  were  also  represented,  altliough  not  by  a  regular  ap- 
pointment of  their  houses  of  assembly.  The  legislature  of  North 
Carolina,  not  having  been  in  session,  could  make  no  delegation,  but 
the  eooperation  of  this  colony,  as  well  as  that  of  New  Hampshire, 
could  be  depended  upon,  in  the  work  to  be  accomplished.  The 
assent  of  Georgia  was  obtained  during  the  session. 

It  was  agreed  that  the  votes  should  be  taken  by  colonies,  neither 
claiming  preeminence  by  virtue  of  superior  extent  or  population. 
The  congress  sat  about  three  weeks,  during  which  time  a  declaration 
of  rights,  and  petitions  and  memorials  to  tlie  king  and  parliament, 
were  drawn  u'l,  debated,  and  finally  agreed  to,  nearly  unanimously. 
All  que^^tion  of  proposed  admission  to  representation  in  the  English 
parliament  was  abandoned  as  impracticable,  and  the  colonics,  without 
menace  or  unseemly  violence,  recapitulated  the  claims  so  often 
urged,  tliat,  by  natural  right,  by  magna  charta,  and  their  own  private 
charters,  the  right  of  taxation,  as  well  as  that  of  the  management 
of  all  internal  government,  was  vested  in  their  own  houses  of  as.^^em- 
bly.  The  infringement  of  the  right  of  trial  by  jury,  in  the  extension 
of  admiralty  jurisdiction,  by  the  provisions  of  the  sugar  act,  was 
also  animadverted  upon. 

The  spirit  of  the  resolutions  and  memorials  adopted  by  congress, 
met  with  a  hearty  response  from  the  people.  The  New  York  mer- 
chants agreed  to  discontinue  all  importation  from  England  until  the 
repeal  of  the  obnoxious  act.  Their  example  was  followed  exten- 
sively in  many  of  the  other  colonies,  and  plans  were  set  on  foot  for 
the  encouragement  and  support  of  domestic  manufactures,  and  for 
devising  substitutes  for  articles  of  luxury,  comfort,  or  necessity, 
hitherto  imjiorted  from  the  old  country.  Several  of  the  colonial 
legislatures  commented  upon  and  approved  the  doings  of  the  con- 
gress of  dcputiei^,  and  ti;osc  few  members  who  had  stoi)d  aloof  from 
or  opposed  the  jjroceedings,  received  tokens  of  marked  dis[)loasuro 
from  their  fellow-members  and  constituents. 

All  attempts  to  enforce  the  stamp  act  (nhich  was  to  go  into  oper- 
ation on  the  1st  of  November)  proved  utterly  vain.  Business  w:w 
conduetod  without  the  use  of  the  stamps,  in  defiance  of  tiie  restrict- 
ive provisions  of  the  law,  and  where  this  could  not  be  done  in 
safety,  as  in  some  of  the  courts,  various  evasions  wore  resorted  to, 
and  suits  were  continued  or  referred  to  arbitrament.  As  yet,  all 
eifcrts  pointed  simply  to  the  repeal  of  the  law,  and  a  modification  of 
the  obnoxious  features  of  the  j^rovisions  for  the  levy  of  customa 


L 


» 


Tim 


tv4k 


~~) 


236 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


News  of  tlicsc  jDroccedings,  and  of  the  turn  of  public  affairs  lu 
America,  reached  England  during  the  adniinistraliou  of  Kocking- 
ham.  GrenviUo  and  his  companions  in  the  cabinet,  who  might 
have  felt  bound  to  make  use  of  every  expedient,  violent  or  politic, 
for  tlie  maintenance  of  an  act  so  deliberately  framed,  and  ])assed 
with  so  little  opjjosition  as  the  one  in  question,  Avere  out  of  oflice, 
and  the  new  incumbents  were  in  a  position  to  look  dispassionately 
at  the  conse(piences  of  pcrsistance  in  carrying  out  the  arbitrary 
principles  recently  adopted.  I'hc  question  w.ns,  indeed,  argued 
rather  as  one  of  jiolicy  than  of  right,  for  the  great  nnijority  in  j)ar- 
liament,  and  in  the  cabinet.  Lad  hitherto  looked  upon  the  ])ower  of 
the  former  to  lay  and  enforce  discretionary  taxes  as  beyond  dispute. 
It  was  easy  to  point  to  the  gross  inequality  of  representation  in 
England,  wlicre  populous  towns  and  districts  had  no  share  in  the 
electoral  privilege,  for  precedents.  The  colonics  of  the  continental 
nations  of  Euroi)c  presumed  to  make  no  question  as  to  the  right 
and  power  of  the  home  governments  to  imjiose  burdens  far  heavier, 
and  of  a  fur  more  arbitrary  and  oppressive  character,  than  those  now 
comjilaincd  of;  antl  it  would  be  to  the  last  degree  luimiliating  to 
England,  if,  while  deaf  to  the  respectful  entreaties  of  the  ])rovince3, 
she  should  be  swayed  from  her  course  by  the  first  threats  ol  forcible 
opposition. 

In  December,  (17G5,)  j)arli;iment  met,  and  the  wbole  subject  was 
reconsidered  and  debated  at  length.  No  dcterniinate  conclusion  was 
arrived  at  during  the  short  session,  and  an  adjournment  for  a  few 
weeks  gave  opportunity  for  the  transmission  of  Anther  intelligence 
from  the  seat  of  disturbance.  It  became  matter  of  notoriety  that, 
in  America,  the  power  of  parliament  was  univorsidly  questioned, 
often  defied,  and  that  people  began  to  speak  "in  the  most  familiar 
manner"  of  the  possibility  of  open  rupture,  and  the  probable  con- 
sequences of  war  with  the  j)arentcountry. 

At  the  January  session,  the  aged  William  Pitt  was  present,  and, 
notwithstanding  his  infirm  health,  took  an  ojten  stand  in  oppusiiiuJi 
to  the  Grcnvillo  schemes  of  taxaUon — and  to  all  direct  taxation  of 
the  colonics  by  ptirliamcnt — arguing  the  questions  at  issue  with  hid 
usual  power  and  persj)icuity.  Uc  jiointcd  out  the  sophistry  of  iho 
supporters  of  the  nieasures  under  examination;  in  reply  to  invec- 
tives, he  uttered  the  most  biting  sarcasms;  and,  in  jilain  terms,  free 
from  teehniealitits,  he  maintained  the  rights  of  the  celonlu.-,  and 
approved  their  opposition.     "I  rejoice,"  said  he,  "that  America  haa 


S'.uV.U,. 


■   ~) 


.uliui 

Cull' 

a:i<l, 

)U  of 
h  Iii.-J 

ihl; 
llVCC- 

aliU 
.  had 


TII£  AMEKICAN    E^VOLUTION. 


237 


resisted.  If  its  millions  of  inhabitants  had  submitted,  taxes  would 
soon  have  been  laid  on  Ireland;  and  if  ever  this  nation  should  have 
a  tyrant  for  its  king,  six  millions  of  freemen,  so  dead  to  all  the  feel- 
ings of  liberty,  as  voluntarily  to  submit  to  be  slaves,  would  be  fit 
iustrunients  to  make  slaves  of  the  rest." 

That  America  could  effectually  resist  the  power  of  England,  he 
thought  grossly  improbable,  ''In  a  good  cause,  on  a  sound  bottutn," 
ho  proceeded,  "the  force  of  this  country  can  crush  America  to 
atoms."  *  *  "The  will  of  parliament,  properly  signiiied,  must 
fur  ever  keep  the  colonies  dejxjndent  upon  the  sovereign  kingdom 
of  Great  Britain.  But,  on  this  ground  of  the  stamp  act,  when  so 
many  hero  will  think  it  a  crying  injustice,  I  am  one  who  will  lilt  up 
my  hands  against  it.  In  such  a  cause  j-our  success  would  be  haz- 
ardous. America,  if  she  fell,  would  fall  like  the  strong  man ;  she 
would  embrace  the  pillars  of  the  state,  and  pull  down  the  constitu- 
tion along  with  her.*'* 

He  coupled  these  strong  denunciations  of  the  proposed  direct 
taxation  with  complete  approval  of  the  exercise  of  jurisdiction  by 
parliament  over  all  matters  of  trade  and  the  regulation  of  manufac- 
tures, claiming  to  perceive  "a  plain  distinction  between  taxes  levied 
for  the  purposes  of  raismg  revenue,  and  duties  imposed  for  the  regu- 
lation of  trade  for  tlie  accommodation  of  the  subject,  although,  in  the 
consequences,  some  revenue  may  accidental!}'  arise  from  the  latter." 

A  large  majority,  both  of  the  commons  and  of  the  house  of  lords, 
still  favoured  the  Knglish  claims  in  their  broadest  extent,  and  a 
resolution  was  prepared,  declaring  that  the  powers  of  the  king  and 
parliament,  in  legislating  for  the  colonies,  were  absolutely  without 
limit.  When  the  question  of  the  stamp  act  was  brought  directly 
before  the  house  of  lords,  those  opjxised  to  repeal,  prevailed  by  a 
small  majority.  In  the  other  house,  the  motion  to  re})cal  was  con- 
sidered, rather  as  a  questio.i  of  present  ix)iicy,  tiian  as  a  tost  of 
future  rights  and  powers.  Benjamin  Franklin,  at  this  time  one  of 
the  most  prominent  amo.ng  the  public  supporters  of  freedom  in 
America,  underwent  a  long  examination  at  the  bar  of  the  house. 
Ilis  clear  and  lucid  exijosition  of  the  American  claims,  his  accurate 
statistical  knowledge,  and  his  acquaintance  with  the  character,  spirit, 
and  local  politics  of  the  colonics,  enabled  him  to  throw  much  light 
upon  the  question,  and  apj>ear  to  have  produced  a  powerful  effect. 
He  pofitively  insisted  that  the  enforcement  of  the  stamp  act  was 

•  Bancroft. 


»;--^';?^. 


•'!>- 


I 


I,  rf, 

4, 


238 


AMERICA    ILLDSTRATED. 


physically  impossible.  "Suppose,"  said  he,  "a  military  forc^  sent 
into  America;  they  will  find  nobody  in  arms.  What  arc  they  then 
to  do?  Tlicy  cannot  force  a  man  to  ta^  '  stamps  who  chooses  to  do 
without  them.  They  will  not  lind  a  rebellion:  they  muy,  indeed, 
make  one."  When  the  attempt  was  made  to  remove  all  distinction 
between  direct  taxes  and  imposts  on  importations,  by  the  suggestion 
that  these  were  often  articles  neeesL\ary  for  life;  he  replied,  "The 
people  may  refuse  commodities,  of  which  the  duty  makes  a  part  of 
the  price;  but  an  internal  tax  is  forced  from  tlicm  without  their 
consent."  And  again:  "I  do  not  know  a  single  article  imported 
into  the  northern  colonics,  but  w  hat  they  can  either  do  without  or 
make  themselves."* 

The  repeal — coupled,  however,  with  the  declaration  before  referred 
to,  that  parliament  still  retained  absolute  power  in  this  as  in  all  other 
colonial  legislation — was  carried  by  a  very  decided  majority.  The 
house  of  lords  reluctantly  concurred,  and  the  bill  received  the  ro3'al 
assent  on  the  18th  of  March,  1766.  The  result  gave  great  satisfac- 
tion to  the  commercial  portion  of  the  inhabitants  of  England;  and 
the  receipt  of  the  intelligence  in  America  was  a  signal  for  uuivcr.-jal 
acclamation  and  rejoicing. 


CHAPTER   I?. 

INTERVAL    OF    QUIET.  —  NEW    TAXES    ON    IMPORTATIONS. — 
NON-TMrGllT*TION    AGREEMENT.  —  CIRCULAR    OP    MAS- 
SACHUSETTS.—  RIOTS  AT  BOSTON.  —  .^SSEMRLIES  DIS- 
SOLVED.  TROOPS  ORDERED  TO  BOSTON. MEASURES 

OF  THE  BRITISH  COVERNMENT. FATAL  ENCOUN'- 

TER  BETWEEN  THE  TROOPS  AND  POPULACE  AT 
BOSTON.  —  CONCESSIONS  OF  PARLIAMENT. 

A  pnouT  period  of  comparative  repose  ensued  upon  the  settlement 
of  the  stamp  question.  Those  who  had  suffered  in  the  jiopular  dis- 
turbances in  New  York  and  Ma.ssachnsctts  wore  indemnified  for 
their  lo.sses  by  the  acts  of  the  general  assemblies.  In  the  latter 
colony,  however,  this  concession  to  thvj  royalists  was  accompanied 

*  Bancroft. 


r 


TUE    AMERICAN    KEVOLUTION. 


239 


by  a  general  act  of  amnesty  for  the  protection  of  the  individual 
rioters.  The  "sugar  act,"  somewhat  modified  during  the  late  session 
of  parliament,  still  remained  a  bone  of  contention. 

Under  the  Pitt  administration,  which  succeeded  that  of  Rocking- 
ham, Townshend,  Grenville's  staunchest  sujiportcr,  held  the  oHico 
of  chancellor  of  the  exchequer.  In  this  capacity,  he  introduced  and 
carried  through  a  new  sys^tem  of  duties  for  the  colonics,  by  which 
imposts  were  laid  upon  various  articles  hitherto  exempt.  A  portion 
of  these  were  of  British  production,  as  paints,  paper,  glass,  &c.  A 
specific  duty  of  three  pence  a  pound  was  laid  on  tea.  The  hiji  v  •  ■ 
avowedly,  for  the  f  '  •  purpose  of  obtaining  revenue  by  indin.cl  or 
externnl  taxatioi.  This  and  other  odious  measures,  jp- •  .''oui-!}' 
passed,  rcspec  *he  maintenance  of  a  standing  army,  j'.nd  the 
quartering  of  troo'  '>on  the  inhabitants  during  their  removal  from 
place  to  place,  st  a  up  all  former  ill  feelings.  The  ground  was 
now  generally  taken  by  political  agitators  in  America,  that  a  tax  on 
importations,  if  for  revenue  purposes  merely,  was  no  more  defensible 
than  a  direct  tax. 

In  October,  1767,  a  movement  was  commenced  at  Boston,  at  o 
public  meeting,  for  the  encouragement  of  nr.cive  manufactures,  ana 
the  organization  of  a  system  of  non-impori,ation  from  England.  A 
more  important  step  was  taken  at  the  session  of  the  general  assem- 
bly for  Mas.sachusetts,  in  the  year  succeeding;  a  circular-letter  being, 
by  a  vote  of  the  house,  prepared,  and  dispatched  to  all  the  othei 
colonial  legislatures,  urging  the  necessity  for  union  in  support  of  the 
rights  of  the  provinces. 

Foremost  in  these  popular  proceedings,  were  two  men  of  widely 
different  character,  age,  and  worldly  condition.  Samuel  Adams, 
the  poor  but  uncompromising  patriot,  whose  bold,  energetic  and 
able  disquisitions  upon  American  rights  and  policy  had  already 
gained  him  wide  celebrity,  andi  John  Hancock,  who  possessed  youth, 
fortune,  and  an  ardent  temperament.  A  small  vessel  belonging  to 
the  latter  was  seized,  in  the  month  of  June,  1768,  as  having  been 
engaged  in  smuggling  wines  from  ^^adcira  This  gave  occasion  for 
an  outbreak,  and  the  commissioners  of  revenue — oflicers  recently 
appointed  by  parliament,  for  the  superintendence  of  customs,  &c. — 
were  forced  to  seek  protection  from  the  mob  in  one  of  the  forts  of 
the  harbour. 

The  assembly  of  Massachusetts  was  required  by  the  governor, 
Bernard,  to  rescind  the  circular  before  mentioned,  and,  upon  refusal 
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240 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


by  a  large  vote,  was  dissolved.  A  favourable  reception  of  the  rebel- 
lious message,  produced  similar  results  in  Virginia,  Maryland,  and 
Georgia.  The  New  York  assembly,  proving  refractory  upon  the 
question  of  quartering  British  troops,  was  also  dismissed  by  the 
governor.  In  Massachusetts,  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  towns, 
unable  to  speak  through  legal  representatives,  elected  delegates  to  a 
convention,  whose  proceedings,  if  unaccompanied  with  legitimate 
authority,  might,  at  least,  show  to  the  woild  the  true  sentiments  of 
the  people. 

For  enforcing  the  revenue  laws,  as  well  as  for  the  preservation  of 
order  in  the  turbulent  city  of  Boston,  General  Gage,  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  British  forces  in  America,  ordered  thither  two  regiments 
of  regulars  from  Halifax.  lie  had  received  previous  instructions  to 
this  effect  from  government,  but  it  was  not  then  supposed  that  so 
large  a  force  would  be  necessary  to  effect  the  purpose.  The  author- 
ities refused  to  provide  quarters  for  the  troops,  alleging  that  there 
was  accommodation  for  them  at  the  regular  barracks;  but  Gage 
was  determined  to  quarter  them  within  the  town,  and  accordingly  a 
portion  encamped  on  the  common,  and  most  of  the  others  took 
possession  of  the  state-house.  Cannon  were  planted  in  front,  and 
an  ostentatious  display  of  military  force  served  to  enrage  and  em 
bitter  the  feelings  of  the  inhabitants. 

Accommodations  for  the  soldiery  could  only  be  procured  by  an 
appropriation  of  the  army  funds,  which  was  accordingly  made, 
and  full  accounts  of  the  fractious  spirit  of  the  colony  were  forwarded 
to  England.  The  news  excited  a  great  degree  of  public  indignation ; 
parliament  proceeded  to  pass  resolutions  of  censure  against  the  colo- 
nies, and — a  matter  of  graver  importance — voted  instructions  to  the 
respective  governors,  for  the  seizure  and  transportation  to  England, 
for  trial,  of  the  leaders  in  disloyalty. 

The  legislature  of  Virginia,  at  the  session  in  May,  1769,  remon- 
strated against  this  iniringemont  of  the  rights  of  persons,  wl.'ch, 
although  sanctioned  by  an  ancient  law  respecting  treasons  comniitttd 
abroad,  was  opposed  to  all  j)rincij)lcs  of  liberty  and  justice,  licsc- 
iutions  upon  this  topic,  embracing  also  a  general  proclamation  of 
colonial  rights,  were  transmitted  to  the  other  colonics.  The  conse- 
quence was  a  speedy  dissolution  of  the  assembly  by  the  governor, 
Lord  Botetourt.  'J1ie  non-importation  agreement  was,  shortly  after 
this,  oNtonsively  adopted,  both  in  Virginia  and  othS  of  the  south- 
«rD  provinces. 


THE   AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


241 


The  ^[assacliusetts  legislature,  at  the  same  period,  refused  posi- 
tively to  appropriate  funds  for  the  army  expenses.  Eequisition  was 
made  for  the  removal  of  the  troops,  and  upon  the  governor's  re- 
Bponse  that  this  was  beyond  the  pale  of  his  authority,  all  legislative 
business  was  stayed,  with  the  exception  of  indignant  discussion  of 
the  public  wrongs.  In  March  of  the  following  year,  the  mutual 
hatred  between  the  citizens  of  Boston  and  the  hired  soldiery  quar- 
tered among  them,  aggravated  by  insults  and  injuries  on  cither  side, 
broke  out  in  open  hostilities.  On  the  evening  of  the  5th  of  the 
month,  a  small  body  of  soldiers,  commanded  by  a  Captain  Preston, 
was  attacked  by  a  mob,  and,  without  orders  from  their  officer,  fired 
upon  the  crowd,  in  self-defence.  Four  persons  were  killed  by  the 
discharge,  and  a  number  were  wounded.  The  rage  of  the  citizens,  at 
this  occurrence,  was  so  great,  that  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  remove 
the  troops  from  the  town  to  the  barracks  at  Castle  William.  This 
being  effected,  those  who  had  perished  in  the  riot  were  buried  with 
great  ceremony,  the  whole  population  taking  part  in  the  exercises  of 
the  occasion,  as  if  in  commemoration  of  some  national  calamity. 

The  soldiers  implicated  in  the  alleged  massacre  were  indicted  for 
murder.  They  received  a  fair  and  impartial  trial,  being  ably  defended 
by  John  Adams  and  Josiah  Quincy,  both  of  whom  were  known  as 
ardent  advocates  of  the  popular  cause.  Conclusive  evidence  was 
found  against  two  only  of  the  accused;  these  were  convicted  of  man- 
slaughter, and  received  but  a  light  punishment. 

In  New  York,  the  temporar}'-  ascendency  of  the  "  moderate  party" 
resulted  in  submission  to  the  requisitions  of  the  quartering  act,  but 
the  same  state  of  feeling  existed  there  as  in  Boston  between  the 
troops  and  the  populace. 

Some  concession  was  made  by  parliament,  in  1770,  to  the  dcn.ands 
of  the  colonies  and  the  petitions  of  the  English  merchant ,.  Tho 
duties  on  articles  of  British  produce,  <fec.,  included  in  the  ]kt  of  com- 
modities taxable  under  tho  regulations  introduced  by  Townsheud, 
were  all  removed,  on  motion  of  Lord  North,  with  the  exception  of 
that  on  tea.  This  was  retained  simply  as  an  assertion  of  principle; 
lor,  while  parliament  evidently  desired  to  conciliate  and  jussist  tho 
American  colonies,  it  was  })lain  that  the  great  majority  of  tho  people 
of  England  and  their  representatives  still  retained  all  their  former 
ideas  respecting  the  sovereign  power  of  the  home  governmeut. 


242 


AMEKICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


u   ii    lil    JT     X    ju    iti       V» 


PARTY    sriRIT    IN   THE   COLONIES. WHIG   AND   TORT. THB 

REGUIATORS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. — HUTCHINSON,  GOVERNOR 

OF   MASSACHUSETTS. DESTRUCTION   OF  THE  GASPEE. 

SYSTEM     OF      POLITICAL     COMMUNICATION     BETWEEN 
THE   COLONIES. — TEA   DISPATCHED  TO  AMERICA   RY 

THE    EAST    INDIA    COMPANY. REFUSAL    OF  THE 

COLONISTS     TO     RECEIVE     IT. TIOLENT    PRO- 
CEEDINGS   AT     BOSTON;     CLOSURE     OF    THE 
PORT.  —  EXTENSION    OF    CANADA. 


TiiE  bitterness  of  party  spirit,  by  this  time,  througliout  tlie  colo- 
nics, was  added  to  that  of  jealousy  and  resistance  to  oppression.  The 
loyalists,  under  the  name  of  tories,  and  the  whig.s,  who  constituted 
the  popular  party,  looked  upon  each  other  with  distrust  and  indig- 
nation. Between  neighbours  and  former  friends,  and  between 
members  of  the  same  family,  a  strife  was  engendered,  rancorous  in 
proportion  to  the  depth  of  either  party's  convictions. 

The  names  of  whig  and  tory  were  applied,  at  this  period,  to  two 
parties  in  the  Carolinas;  the  first,  self  styled  regulators,  who  origin- 
ally organized  themselves  as  a  party  for  the  summary  punishment 
of  criminals,  in  a  country  where  the  population  was  sparse,  and  the 
course  of  justice  tardy;  the  second,  their  opponents,  known  also  by 
other  titles.  In  North  Carolina,  those  calling  themselves  "regu- 
lator.'J,"  consisted  of  ignorant  inhabitants  of  the  more  barren  dis- 
tricts, and  were  simply  combined  to  resist  all  civil  authority.  The 
difficulties  which  arose  from  the  existence  oi  such  a  purty,  resulted 
in  actual,  though  brief,  civil  war.  In  May,  1771,  "  Governor  Tryon, 
at  the  head  of  a  body  of  volunteers,  marched  into  ♦.he  disaflected 
counties.  The  regulators  assembled  in  arms,  s.  ■>  i  action  was 
fought  at  Alamance,  on  the  Haw,  near  the  hef*  ,ters  of  Cape 
Fear  river,  in  which  some  two  hundred  were  left  dead  upon  the 
field.  Out  of  a  large  number  taken  prisoners,  six  were  executed  for 
high  treason."*  The  good-will  of  this  turbulent  faction  was  concil- 
iated by  a  su\)sequent  governor,  Joseph  Martin. 

In  the  north,  causes  of  discontent  with  English  authority  were 

*  Ilildrcth's  History  of  the  United  States. 


THE    AMERICAN    KEVOLUTION, 


243 


multiplied,  notwithstanding  the  concessions  of  parliament.  Hutch- 
inson, upon  receiving  the  appointment  of  governor  of  Massachusetts, 
in  1771,  was  made  independent  of  the  colony  by  the  settlement  upon 
him  of  a  large  salary  to  be  paid  by  the  crown.  This  gave  great  dis- 
satisfliction,  inasmuch  as  the  governor  and  colony  v.cre  r.o  longer 
bound  by  a  common  interest.  The  measure,  it  is  true,  had  been 
provoked  by  a  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  assembly  to  make  the 
usual  appropriation  for  the  governor's  salary. 

Fullilment  of  the  non-importatiou  agreement  had  been  gradually 
relaxed  in  most  of  the  colonies,  except  in  regard  to  the  one  article 
of  tea,  which,  being  alone  retained  of  that  list  made  out  for  revenue 
purposes  merely,  stood  as  a  representative  of  all  the  rest.  The  old 
regulations  of  trade,  as  provided  for  in  the  "sugar  act,"  were  still 
enforced,  and  a  number  of  vessels,  armed  for  the  revenue  service, 
were  employed  on  the  coast.  One  of  these,  named  the  Gaspee,  had 
become  particularly  obnoxious  to  the  people  of  Rhode  Island.  She 
interfered  most  inconveniently  in  their  smuggling  transactions;  and 
her  officers,  moreover,  in  carrying  out  their  instructions,  had,  by 
arrogance  and  arbitrary  conduct,  excited  popular  ill-will.  While 
stationed  in  Narragansett  Bay,  this  vessel,  by  a  stratagem,  was 
decoyed  upon  a  shoal,  and,  as  she  lay  aground,  was  attacked  and 
burned  by  a  party  from  Providence,  on  the  night  of  June  10th, 
1772.  Great  efforts  were  made  to  secure  the  punishment  of  the 
perj)etrators  of  this  act  of  vi<ilence,  but  they  were  so  shielded  by  the 
favt)ur  of  the  people,  that  no  conclusive  evidence  could  be  obtained 
against  them,  altliongh  they  were  identified  by  common  report. 
The  ap])ointment  of  a  special  court  for  their  trial,  and  the  offer  of  a 
large  reward  for  evidence,  alike  failed  to  bring  the  offenders  to 
puni.-hment. 

Agitation  of  political  questions,  throughout  this  period,  was  con- 
tinually kept  up  by  private  associations  and  corresponding  commit- 
tees of  different  towns  and  districts.  This  movement,  originating 
in  Xew  England,  led  to  a  more  general  .system  of  union,  in  conse- 
quence of  action  by  the  Virginia  legislature.  A  copy  of  the  pro- 
ceedings in  the  Massachusetts  assembly,  in  which  the  controversy 
■with  the  governor  also  involved  general  discussion  of  grievances, 
having  been  forwarded  to  that  liody,  a  committee  was  regularly 
a|fpointed  to  inquire  into  the  questions  at  issue,  and  to  communicate 
thereupon  with  the  other  colonies.  'I'hc  assembly  was,  in  conse- 
quence, dissolved  by  the  governor,  but  the  committee  proceeded, 


244 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


notwithstanding,  to  fulfil  their  instructions.  This  example  was 
followed  by  the  colonies  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New  Ilamp- 
shire,  Ehodc  Island,  Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland.  Such  an  organ 
ization  proved  of  inestimable  service  at  the  commencement  of  the 
contest  upon  which  the  country  was  about  to  enter.  A  publication, 
by  Doctor  Franklin,  then  agent  for  Massachusetts,  as  well  as  for 
several  other  of  the  colonies,  in  England,  of  certain  letters  written 
by  Hutchinson  and  other  loyalists,  excited  great  indignation.  These 
letters,  which  were  never  intended  to  meet  the  j)ublic  eye,  spoke 
contemptuously  of  the  popular  party,  and  recommended  stringent 
measures  for  coercion. 

Opportunity  was  not  long  wanting  for  open  demonstralion  of  the 
true  state  of  feeling  in  the  colonies.  As  already  mentioned,  the 
agreement  to  import  no  tea  had  been  generally  observed,  and  the 
East  India  Company,  receiving  no  orders  from  American  merchants, 
made  the  necessary  arrangements  for  carrying  on  the  trade  by  their 
own  agents.  Consignees  were  appointed  in  the  more  important  sea- 
ports, and  a  number  of  vessels  were  freighted  and  dispatched.  In 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  these  agents,  alarmed  at  the  threats 
of  the  people,  thought  it  the  part  of  safety  not  to  enter  upon  the 
duties  of  their  appointment,  and  the  vessels  were  obliged  to  return 
to  England  with  their  cargoes.  In  Boston  the  consignees  refused 
to  resign  their  agency,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  excitement  attendant 
upon  their  contumacy,  several  vessels  arrived  loaded  with  tea. 

A  considerable  body  of  citizens  stationed  themselves  as  a  watch, 
to  preclude  the  possibility  of  a  secret  landing,  and  the  captain  and 
consignees  were  notified  that  tlie  only  safe  course  for  them  to  pur- 
sue, was  immediately  to  comply  with  the  popular  demand,  that  tlie 
tea  be  sent  back  to  England.  But  upon  ajiplication  at  tlie  custom- 
house, no  clearance  could  be  cfl'ectcd  without  a  landing  of  the  cargo, 
and  the  governor  refused  a  permit  to  pass  the  defensive  works  of 
the  castle. 

The  citizens  held  repeated  mass  meetings,  in  which  the  question 
was  fuUv  discussed,  and  ncarlv  unanimous  resolutions  were  adopted 
to  resist  to  tlie  last  extremity  all  attempts  at  landing  the  tea.  They 
were  in  session  (December  IGth,  1773)  when  the  definitive  reply  of 
the  governor,  respecting  a  pass,  was  received.  "A  violent  commo- 
tion instantly  ensued.  A  person  disguised  after  the  manner  of  the 
Indians,  who  was  in  the  gallery,  shouted  at  this  juncture  the  cry 
of  war:  the  meeting  was  dissolved  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye.     The 


THE   AMERICAN    REVOLUTION, 


245 


multitude  rushed  in  mass  to  Griffin's  wharf.  About  twenty  persons, 
also  disguised  as  Indians,  then  made  their  appearance;  all  either 
masters  of  ships,  carpenters,  or  caulkers.  They  went  on  board  the 
ships  laden  with  tea.  In  less  than  two  hours,  three  hundred  and 
forty  chests  were  staved,  and  emptied  in  the  sea.  They  were  not 
interrupted:  the  surrounding  multitude  on  shore  served  them  as  a 
safe  guard.  The  affair  was  conducted  without  tumult:  no  damage 
was  done  to  the  ships,  or  to  any  other  effects  whatever."* 

The  consequence  of  these  acts  of  violence  was  the  immediate 
passage,  by  parliament,  of  the  act  known  as  the  "Boston  port  bill," 
by  which  the  port  was  closed  against  all  importations,  the  custom- 
house being  removed  to  Salem.  This  restriction  was  not  to  be 
removed  until  full  compensation  should  be  made  for  the  damage 
done  by  the  populace.  On  motion  of  North,  a  further  enactment 
passed,  by  a  very  large  majority,  for  giving  the  appointment  of  all 
civil  and  judicial  officers  in  Massachusetts  directly  to  the  crown. 
It  was  also  enacted  that,  at  any  future  prosecution  for  "homicide 
or  other  capital  offence"  committed  in  support  of  lawful  authority, 
the  governor  might  send  the  accused  out  of  the  colony  for  trial, 
either  to  another  province,  or  to  England,  if  it  appeared  to  him 
necessary  so  to  afford  security  against  popular  prejudice. 

In  anticipation  of  the  possible  result  of  such  violent  measures, 
acts  were  passed  for  the  further  regulation  of  government  in  Canada, 
the  bounds  of  which  province  were  extended  "so  as  to  embrace 
the  territory  situated  between  the  lakes,  the  river  Ohio,^  and  the 
Mississippi." 

.  •  Otis'  Bottft. 


246  AlIEltICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


UoiX^X       itJiiLir  vie 

nAOE,    OOVEIlNOll   OF   II A SS AC IIUS E T TS:    JIILITARY   TREPARA- 
TIOXS:  MINUTE-MEN.  —  DISTRESS  IN  130ST0N:   SYMPATHY  OF 
OTHER  TOWNS.  —  CONVENTION  PROPOSED  BY  VIRGINIA:  DEL- 
EGATES  CHOSEN   I!Y   THE    COLONIES. — THE    CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS:    RESOLUTIONS   AND   DECLARATION   ADOPTED. 
— VIOLENT    MEASURES    OF    PARLIAMENT. 

In  May,  1774,  General  Gage,  Laving  received  the  appointment 
•of  governor  gf  Massachusetts,  in  place  of  Hutchinson,  arrived  in 
Boston.  He  was,  personally,  held  in  much  greater  esteem  than  his 
predecessor,  and  met  with  a  suitable  reception,  notwithstanding  the 
general  state  of  disorder  and  indignation  at  the  speedy  enforcement 
of  the  port  bill,  which  was  to  go  into  operation  on  the  1st  of  June. 
A  number  of  regiments  of  regulars  were  concentrated  at  the  town 
for  the  purpose  of  overawing  the  inhabitants,  and,  under  the  direc- 
tions of  the  general,  defensive  works  were  erected  on  the  neck  by 
which  the  peninsula  of  Boston  is  connected  with  the  main  land. 

These  precautions  were  by  no  means  premature  or  unnecessary, 
for,  every  where  throughout  the  colony,  appearances  grew  more  and 
more  ominous.  The  new  officers,  of  royal  appointment,  were  im- 
peded in  the  exercise  of  their  duties,  by  threats  or  violence ;  the 
organization  and  training  of  the  militia  was  carried  on  with  great 
zeal  and  perseverance;  meetings  were  every  where  held,  and  reso- 
lutions were  passed  breathing  the  spirit  of  the  most  determined 
resistance.  At  a  general  meeting  of  Massachusetts  delegates,  at 
Salem,  of  which  Hancock  was  president,  "They  enrolled  twelve 
thousand  of  the  militia,  whom  they  called  minute-men;  that  is,  sol- 
diers that  must  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  minute's 
notice."  Directions  were  openly  and  boldly  given  for  the  storing 
of  provisions,  the  collection  of  ammunition,  &c.,  as  if  the  country 
were  already  involved  in  civil  war. 

The  city  of  Boston  necessarily  suffered  severely  from  the  tolsil 
cutting  off  of  its  commercial  resources.  The  most  hearty  sympathy 
was  expressed  by  the  towns  of  Massachusetts,  and  by  the  other  col- 
onies, both  in  the  form  of  resolutions  of  cncounigemcnt,  and,  more 
Kubstantially,  by  subscriptions  lor  the  relief  of  the  poor.     At  Salem 


THE   AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


2i7 


and  Marbleliead,  tlie  merchants  proffered  the  use  of  their  warehouses 
to  the  Boston  importers,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  former  made 
public  profession  of  their  determination  not  to  take  advantage  of 
the  position  in  which  they  were  placed,  to  enrich  themselves  at  the 
expense  of  those  who  had  exposed  their  property  and  personal 
safety  for  the  general  good. 

In  the  neighbouring  colonies,  the  same  state  of  affairs  existed  as 
in  Massachusetts.  Not  only  were  the  people  busily  engaged  in  pre- 
paring arms  and  ammunition,  but,  in  several  instances,  they  vio- 
lently plundered  the  public  stores.  The  legislative  assemblies 
generally  responded  to  the  exigency  of  the  occasion,  by  resolutions 
of  sympathy  and  encouragement.  In  Virginia,  it  was  resolved,  that 
attempts  to  coerce  one  colony  to  submit  to  measures  which  all  had 
expressed  a  common  interest  in  opposing,  were  to  be  resisted  by 
the  others,  and  it  was  recommended  that  an  annual  convention 
should  be  held  by  deputies  from  all  the  colonies,  to  take  counsel  for 
the  general  good. 

In  accordance  with  this  proposal,  all  the  colonies  except  Georgia 
made  choice  of  delegates,  in  number  from  two  to  seven,  according 
to  the  population  of  each,  who  were  to  convene  at  Philadelphia. 
At  the  same  time,  resolutions  to  cease  all  commerce  with  Great 
Britain  were  renewed.  Agreements  to  that  effect  were  signed  by 
immense  numbers,  and  those  who  did  not  readily  concur  with 
the  proposal,  were  eilectually  overawed  by  a  threat  of  the  publica- 
tion of  their  names.  A  time  was  fixed  for  the  agreement  to  go  into 
operation.  The  state  of  public  feeling  was  also  demonstrated  by 
acta  of  violence  committed  upon  the  persons  of  obnoxious  tories, 
many  of  whom  were  "tarred  and  feathered,"  or  otherwise  so  perse- 
cuted as  to  be  obliged  to  place  themselves  under  the  proter  '■  ■;  of 
the  authorities  at  the  A)rtified  posts. 

The  continental  congress  met  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  5th  of  Sep- 
tember, 177-i.  All  were  present  except  the  deputies  from  South 
Carolina,  who  arrived  on  the  14th.  Of  the  fifty-three  delegates  to 
this  convention,  nearly  all  were  men  of  property  and  high  standing 
in  society:  many  of  them — as  Patrick  Henry  of  Virginia,  Samuel  and 
John  Adams  of  Massachusetts,  lloger  Sherman  of  Connecticut,  and 
others — were  already  celebrated  for  eloquence,  legal  attainments,  or 
for  an  active  share  in  the  first  patriotic  movements.  It  was  no 
assembly  of  reckless  political  adventurers,  but  consisted  of  men  who 
truly  represented  the  intelligent  portion  of  the  community,  and  who 


I 


248 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


J 


I 


( 


felt  that  their  own  good  fame,  their  lives,  property,  and  personai 
safety  depended  upon  the  performance  of  their  duty  to  their  con- 
stituents, in  a  manner  as  prudent  and  cautious,  as  firm  and  uncom- 
promising. It  was  agreed  that  each  colony  should  have  but  one 
vote,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  assembly  were  only  to  be  made 
public  so  far  as  permitted  by  its  own  resolutions.  The  session  was 
held  with  closed  doors. 

The  first  proceedings  were  th^  adoption  of  resolutions  expressive 
of  approval  of  those  passed  by  the  Massachusetts  convention;  a 
declaration  of  rights,  accompanied  by  a  specific  enumeration  of  the 
instances  in  which  these  had  been  infringed  by  the  British  govern- 
ment ;  and  a  more  efiicient  organization  of  the  system  of  non-im- 
portation, which  was  to  go  into  general  operation  on  the  1st  of  the 
ensuing  December,  and  to  which  was  appended  an  agreement  not 
to  export  goods  to  England  or  its  dependencies,  if,  at  a  future  period, 
redress  should  not  have  been  obtained  for  injuries  already  commit- 
ted. Incidentally  to  this  agreement,  the  importation  of  slaves  was 
condemned,  and  was  prohibited  by  the  articles  of  compact, 

A  petition  to  the  king,  and  addresses,  letters,  and  memorials  to 
the  people  of  Great  Britain,  and  of  the  northern  American  provinces, 
were  subsequently  prepared,  debated,  and  adopted.  An  unavailing 
communication  had  been  previously  addressed  to  General  Gage, 
remonstrating  against  the  military  operations  at  Boston.  Congress 
adjourned  in  the  latter  part  of  October,  after  providing  for  a  future 
meeting,  to  take  place  in  the  following  year. 

During  the  winter,  the  colonies  had  opportunity  to  express  their 
separate  opinion  upon  the  doings  of  Congress,  either  by  their  assem- 
blies or  by  popular  conventions.  The  acts  passed  generally  met 
with  hearty  approval  and  concurrence.  The  sect  of  Quakers,  at 
their  yearly  meeting,  carrying  out  their  principles  of  peace,  con- 
demned every  thing  that  should  tend  to  bring  down  upon  the  coun- 
try the  calamities  of  war;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the  eloquence  and 
ardour  of  New  England  divines,  especially  of  the  Congregational 
societies,  were  lent,  with  little  scruple  or  concealment,  to  the  popular 
cause.  The  association  for  non-intercourse  with  England  experi- 
enced more  opposition  in  New  York  than  elsewhere:  the  torios  of 
that  colony,  by  reason  of  wealth,  influence,  and  numbers,  occupied 
a  more  independent  position  than  in  either  of  the  other  provinces, 
and  the  self-interest  of  the  large  number  of  those  dependent  upon 
the  commerce  of  New  York,  strengthened  their  opposition. 


ssion  was 


TUE  AMEKICAiN    REVOLUTION. 


n 


249 


The  parliament  of  Great  Britain,  upon  receipt  of  intelligence  con- 
cerning the  American  congress  and  the  disorderly  state  of  affairs  in 
America,  determined  on  violent  "coercive  measures.  The  concil- 
iatory and  moderate  policy  of  the  elder  Pitt  was  rejected;  Franklin 
and  the  other  colonial  agents  were  refused  a  hearing;  and,  as  a  pun- 
ishment to  the  colonies  for  their  resistance  to  authority  and  refusal 
to  import  goods  from  Great  Britain,  all  other  foreign  trade,  except 
that  to  the  British  West  Indies,  was  absolutely  prohibited,  as  was 
also  the  prosecution  of  the  fisheries  on  the  banks.  A  large  military 
and  naval  reinforcement  was  also  ordered  to  America.  A  provision 
was,  indeed,  made  for  the  exemption  from  taxation  of  any  colony 
which  should,  by  its  own  act,  appropriate  a  "sufficient"  sum  for  the 
necessary  expenses  of  government  and  defence.  In  the  new  restric- 
tions upon  trade,  exceptions  were  introduced  in  favour  of  New 
York  and  North  Carolina,  these  being  considered  the  most  loyal 
and  amenable  of  the  colonies.  The  acts  were  passed  in  both  houses 
by  large  majorities,  notwithstanding  the  able  argument  of  eloquent 
opponents,  and  a  crowd  of  petitions  from  merchants,  manufacturers, 
and  inhabitants  of  other  colonies,  whose  interests  were  directly  de- 
pendent upon  prosperous  commerce  with  America. 


CHAPTER   ?IL 


WARLIKE  PREPARATIONS  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. TROO    S  DIS- 
PATCHED TO  SEIZE  MILITARY  STORES. -*-FIRST  BLOOD  •SHED 
AT  LEXINGTON.  —  DISASTROUS  RETREAT  OF  THE  BRITISH  TO 
BOSTON.  —  PROCEEDINGS  IN  THE  NEIGHBOURING  COLONIES. 
—  BOSTON  BESIEGED  BY  THE  PROVINCIALS. CONCUR- 
RENCE 01'  THE  SOUTHERN  COLONIES. — SECOND  SESSION 
OP  CONGRESS. — APPOINTMENT  OP  OFFICERS. — 
SEIZURE  OF  CROWN  POINT  AND  TICONDEROOA. 

The  inh.abitants  of  Massachusetts!,  denounced  as  rebels  by  the  late 
acts  of  parliament,  cut  off  from  all  sources  of  former  prosperity,  and 
insulted  by  the  presence  of  overbearing  military  officials  and  sol- 
diery, wore  now  ready  for  any  extremity.  It  was  witli  no  small 
diSScuUy  that  supplies  could  be  procured  for  the  troops  at  Boston, 


%i 


Iff  r 


::=:,-) 


250 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


and  tlie  commanding  ofTiccr  licard,  with  alarm,  of  the  unceasing  pre- 
parations for  war  that  were  going  on  in  all  the  neighbouring  dis- 
tricts. The  precarious  position  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  excited 
universal  concern,  and  various  plans  were  suggested  for  their  relief. 
Among  others,  it  is  said  to  have  been  seriously  proposed,  that  "a 
valuation  should  be  made  of  the  houses  and  furniture  belonging  to 
the  inhabitants,  that  the  city  should  then  be  fired,  and  that  all  the 
losses  should  be  reimbursed  from  the  public  treasure."  The  pro- 
vincial congress  of  Massachusetts  ordered  the  procurement  of  large 
quantities  of  ammunition  and  arms,  which,  as  fast  as  they  could  be 
collected,  were  privately  stored  at  different  depots  in  the  country 
towns.  Cannon,  balls,  &c.,  were  smuggled  out  of  Boston,  over  the 
fortified  neck,  in  manure-carts,  and  various  other  devices  were  suc- 
cessfully resorted  to  for  deceiving  the  guard. 

General  Gage,  having  now  nearly  three  thousand  men  under  his 
immediate  command,  thought  that  the  time  had  arrived  for  a  forcible 
check  upon  the  movements  of  the  rebels.  He  had  learned  that  arms 
and  ammunition,  belonging  to  the  provincials,  were  collected  in 
large  quantities  at  Concord,  about  eighteen  ."niles  from  Boston.  These 
he  determined  to  seize,  and,  having  taken-  every  precaution  to  pre- 
vent intelligence  of  the  movement  from  being  known,  he  dispatched 
several  companies  of  grenadiers  and  light  inflmtry,  numbering  about 
eight  hundred  men,  upon  this  service,  on  the  night  of  April  ISth, 
(1775.)  Doctor  Joseph  "Warren,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the 
Boston  patriots,  had,  by  some  means,  become  acquainted  with  the 
intended  attack,  and  sent  messengers  forthwith  to  spread  the  news 
through  the  countrj'. 

Early  on  the  following  morning  the  troops,  commanded  by  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Smith,  entered  Lexington,  a  few  miles  from  Concord. 
A  company  of  provincial  militia,  to  the  number  of  little  more  than 
seventy,  was  under  arms  upon  the  green,  near  the  meeting-house. 
Major  Pitcairn,  leader  of  the  van-guard,  called  out,  "Disperse,  rebels! 
lay  down  your  arms  and  dis])crse."  The  order  not  being  obevcd, 
he  immediately  discharged  a  pistol,  and,  waving  his  sword,  gave 
the  command  to  fire.  Several  fell  at  the  first  volley,  and,  alth()Ui:h 
the  militia  immediatel}-  retreated,  they  were  fired  upon  in  the  act  of 
dispersing.     Eight  were  killed. 

The  troops  then  marched  on  to  Concord.  At  that  town  the  min- 
ute-men endeavoured  to  keep  possession  of  a  bridge,  but  were 
charged  and  driven  from  their  position.     The  object  of  the  expedi- 


1^ 


c  unceasing  pre- 
M^hbouring  dis- 
'  Boston  excited 
I  for  tlieir  relief, 
reposed,  that  "a 
ire  belonging  to 
and  tbat  all  the 
arc."  The  j^ro- 
iremeut  of  large 
xs  they  could  be 
in  the  country 
Boston,  over  the 
evices  ■were  suc- 


.  men  under  his 
ed  for  a  forcible 
arned  that  arms 
ire  collected  in 
I  Boston.  These 
jcaution  to  pre- 
n,  he  dispatched 
umbering  about 
t  of  April  ISth, 
rominent  of  the 
ainted  with  the 
pread  the  news 

landed  by  Licu- 
s  from  Concord, 
little  more  tluia 
meeting-house. 
Disperse,  rebels! 
t  being  obeyrd, 
lis  sword,  gave 
',  and,  althoULrh 
on  in  the  act  of 


■#i 


1 


t  town  the  min-     |; 
idgc,   but  were 
t  of  the  expedi- 


■  I 


;  :.L;'>T;..vTh.;.'. 


;   1 


■ii 


_'.';;;^    oi;    Hi    vA't    lii<     ;ici-'     ■  \xr.     '    '.H- 

.;» .      i .  .cu     Hi  ]■- 
».'i  ^.■>  i     "    ■  •*  i\w  houHC's  aru-fufM'm^e  bclcugiu.   to 

'"?    '  -'■■>  V...    ..y^femH  tiicii  l)f';&x:'''  'niil  that'all 'i;<; 

A.'*8f'  ;  fee  r»}iiiibttrs*si  iV^aa  the  public  ti-  Tiic  i  n-- 

;'in<ji»rp'*  i^ress  of  Miusgai;iiU*?fcts  ordertd  the  procu.  yfiji-;- 

qT>aftJj!Vfj  of  aniraunition  ^ad  arn^i,  which,  as  fiist  iis  tlu^  eoujjsl  1  < 
colTe^ied,  were  jtrivatel^Tldi  ■  .  3iirercnt  tU]  K^t.'i  »a  the  eou|i!!\ 
towns.  Cannon,  baii.*,  S^woic  oU)%'glcd  ot;t  of  ]3oston,  over-;;.< 
^Vrtiued  neck,  ir.  raanurAgrts.  .Uiu  vcrioiis  other  ue\.oc'a  wore  it  ;c 

G«n<fal  0:^,  iift«^ivg  n<;-.^  nearly  uwcc  tliousanl  nieii  lUKler  i.i- 
imiiiodi/^tfj  '.v^uiaT)i3jthv>^>".   •  •  t  rht-  i:;,k'  had  arrived  for  a  fpt^i'! 


i;h<\4i  upon  tli€  Tiiu-.   "" 


1775.)  lA  ..  .  ^c 
!f)«ton  patriots,  hiv.].  'j^ 
it€>ndcd  atweL    <  '      :i* 


/       Jm^  liud  learned  that  j)|ni.- 


-    '"o! looted'  i 

■  ;*?           .  ... 

.,  ho  di.«|^. 
'        i^abO' 

iiieans,  becoi;      ,   ^.^ 

'  H,  1 1  i,   '  '  i      L 

:   wit.h  ! 

gera  forth witji  to- spread  tl 


)  ■ 


\.}i  ■  iiii.i      '  I. 

'!      ['Or-il::.-         L   , 

'''hv  I.     ■;  a  'li'.-i 
<-,':••  1  ■{■:     \  ;..(«.';iv« ■•••.;. 
vl  :T/'        r'hd  d)  ;  V  r  .   fju. 


•  orniiii    tho  troops,  comnianded  )r, 
'  ^       ng'on,  A  few  r  Jl<^3  fw)r^  Co;ic  J 
*  fi'UTiber  <  •'*  ''^''.=  v"r'^  1 
■■-.J,  near  ;  .  •:  u. 

'!«jdout. 
•    order 


•  :'l  ■;,  l!i  ,'}•  Wcr'j  t.j.-  J  »j;  '•  I  ,,,  < '.  ■         wl 

■i  "11  t  •  C  :-•.:,!.      At  li'at  '.,  -         .      .     i 
'i   "I-    I  •••>:■. -ii.^n    o:    a   1  riil  ■•.'         i 


?>  •■;  .-i    '  pre 

J-      iK-ir    .>•,      ;. 


il  that  all     '-: 

•1        IVl 

J.  JlC  '- 

:       (■"  I:        ■' 

the  com.    ^ 

ton,  oyex'      •■ 
,cc8  were  i  c 

leii  unuer   .:■ 
for  a  forCii' 
aecl  tbat  nr  u?- 
I  ciollcoted    M 
'       Th.s. 

.11   to  p:'-- 
■i  .p^tcli 


IlOtlt,  "1"  \ 


Ik- ft   wi 


ii](>A  1). 


I'lit! 


th  t 


— t 


THE  AMEinCAN    REVOLUTION. 


251 


tion  was  accompKslied,  by  the  destruction  of  a  quantity  of  ammuui- 
tion  and  provisions,  and  *''  spiking  and  dismounting  of  two  pieces 
of  anillery.  By  this  tir.  he  whole  country  was  up  in  arms,  and, 
as  the  troops  commencea  ihoir  retreat,  tliey  were  exposed  to  a  gall- 
ing and  destructive  fire  from  places  of  concealment  on  either  side  of 
the  road,  while  a  large  and  constantly  increasing  force  of  the  provin- 
cials hung  upon  their  rear. 

To  protect  the  retreat,  General  Gage  had,  fortunately  for  the 
expedition,  sent  on  a  reinforcement  of  sixteen  companies,  who  met 
the  first  detachment  at  Lexington.  ^Yearied  by  their  long  night 
march  and  the  fatigues  of  the  morning,  and  with  their  ammunition 
nearly  spent,  the  whole  of  the  first  detachment,  it  was  thought,  might 
have  perished  or  fallen  into  the  enemies'  hands  but  for  the  aid  thus 
opportunely  aflbrded.  After  resting  and  recruiting  their  strength, 
the  whole  army  marched  towards  Boston. 

Harassed  throughout  the  entire  distance  by  an  irregular  but 
deadly  fire  from  concealed  marksmen,  the  worn-out  troops  reached 
Charlestown  about  sunset.  They  had  sustained  a  loss,  in  killed  and 
wounded,  of  not__far  from  three  hundred  men:  the  provincials  lost 
less  than  one-third  of  that  number.  What  added  to  the  difiiculty 
of  the  march,  was  the  intense  heat  of  the  weather,  and  a  high  wind, 
which  raised  clouds  of  dust. 

The  first  blood  had  now  been  shed;  the  country  was  actually 
involved  in  war;  and  Massachusetts  called  upon  the  other  colonies 
for  assistance.  Connecticut,  New  Hampshire,  and  Rhode  Island, 
maclc  response  by  raising  troops  and  commissioning  officers.  In 
anticipation  of  this  more  regular  levy,  a  large  army  of  volunteers 
had  collected  and  encamped  around  Boston.  Generals  "Ward  and 
Thomas  received  the  highest  commission  under  the  provision  of  the 
Massachusetts  provincial  legislature.  The  volunteers  from  Connec- 
ticut were  commanded  by  General  Putnam,  an  old  soldier,  and  a 
true  man  of  the  times.  There  was  no  difiiculty,  at  this  period,  in 
procuring  men :  more,  indeed,  flocked  in  than  could  be  supported, 
and  upon  the  arrival  of  the  regular  provincial  forces,  great  num- 
bers of  the  volunteers  disbanded  and  returned  home.  The  universal 
indignation  was  increased  by  rejiorts  of  British  cruelties  during 
the  brief  period  of  hostilities.  These  stories,  it  is  said,  the  leaders 
of  the  people  "never  failed  to  propagate  and  exaggerate,  in  every 
place,  repeating  them  with  words  of  extreme  vehemence,  and 
painting  them  in  the  moat  vivid  colours,"  thereby  producing  "au 


252 


AMEKICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


incredible  fermentation,  and  a  frantic  rage  in  lihe  minds  of  the 
inhabitants." 

The  middle  and  southern  colonies,  as  soon  as  the  news  of  the 
opening  of  the  campaign  in  the  north  could  reach  them,  generally 
gave  expression  to  the  popular  feeling  of  sympathy  with  the  patriots, 
and  of  their  conviction  that  the  questions  in  dispute  were  of  com- 
mon interest.  Military  organizations,  associations  for  purposes  of 
defence,  and  seizures  of  public  stores  and  funds  for  the  popular 
cause,  were  the  order  of  the  day. 

On  the  10th  of  May,  (1775,)  in  accordance  with  former  provisions, 
the  continental  congress  assembled,  the  second  time,  at  Philadelphia. 
Peyton  Eandolph,  of  Virginia,  who  had  presided  at  the  first  meeting, 
was  reelected;  but  upon  his  departure  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the 
Virginia  assembly,  his  place  was  taken  by  Thomas  Jefibrson.  The 
first  proceedings  were  to  prepare  a  further  petition  to  the  king,  and 
addresses  to  the  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain  and  the  American  col- 
onics. It  was  then  voted,  that  war  had  been  commenced  by  England, 
and  that  active  measures  should  be  taken  for  defence;  but,  at  the 
same  time,  a  nominal  allegiance  was  professed  to  the  parent-country. 

Continental  ofliccrs  were  next  chosen — the  ofiice  of  commauJer- 
in-chief  being  bestowed  upon  George  Washington,  one  of  the  mem- 
bers from  Virginia;  Artemas  Ward,  Philip  Schuyler,  Israel  Putnam, 
and  Cliarlcs  Lee,  were  chosen  major-general:  ;  Iloratio  Gates  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  adjutant-general.  The  two  officers  last 
mentioned  had  both  held  commissions  in  the  British  service. 

These  proceedings  occupied  some  time,  and,  meanwhile,  important 
scenes  were  enacting  at  the  seat  of  war.  On  the  very  day  that  con- 
gress assembled,  a  bold  and  successful  adventure  was  achieved  by  a 
volunteer  force  of  the  "Green  Mountain  Boys,"  commanded  by  Ethan 
Allen,  one  of  the  most  active  and  enterprising  of  the  popular  leaders 
at  the  north.  At  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  fortified  posts  upon 
Lake  Cliamplain,  on  the  Canadian  frontier,  it  was  known  tiiat  tliero 
was  great  store  of  artillery  and  ammunition,  and  a  design  was  fvirmed 
simultaneously  in  Connecticut  and  Vermont  to  accomplish  its  seizure. 
Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  of  New  Haven,  at  the  time  connected  Avitli 
the  besieging  army  at  Boston,  was  commissioned  by  the  former,  lie 
Ls  described  as  having  been  "j)osse.sscd  by  nature  of  an  extraordinary 
force  of  genius,  a  restless  character,  and  an  intrepidity  bordering  upon 
prodigy."  Finding  that  Allen  had  already  raised  a  force  for  the  same 
object,  Arnold  joined  the  expedition  as  a  subordinate. 


THE  AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


253 


Tlie  garrisons  at  tlie  forts  were  grossly  insufficient  in  numbers 
for  their  defence,  and  were,  moreover,  taken  completely  by  surprise. 
When  the  commander  of  Ticonderoga,  roused  from  sleep,  and  sum- 
moned by  Allen  to  surrender,  "  in  the  name  of  tae  Great  Jebovali 
and  the  Continental  Congress,"  was  informed  tlaat  he  was  "prisoner 
of  America,  he  was  much  confused,  and  repeated,  several  times, 
'What  does  this  mean?' "  About  two  hundred  and  twenty  pieces  of 
artillery,  with  a  great  quantity  of  ammunition,  and  a  number  of 
howitzers  and  mortars,  were  secured  at  these  two  posts.  Proceeding 
down  the  Sorcl  in  a  sch'joner,  Arnold  surprised  and  captured  a 
British  corvette  which  lay  at  Fort  St.  John.  The  captured  fortresses 
on  Champlain  were  garrisoned  and  put  under  his  command. 


kJ    iLJj    boAj    uj      iL     Jj    iLo        V     X    Jb    Ji  • 

COXDITIOX    OF   THE   BRITISH    AR.MY    IN    BOSTON. BATTLE    0? 

BUNKER     HILL. —  WASHINGTON     AT     THE     C.UIP.  —  CON- 
GRESSIONAL riiOCELDINGS. — THE    INDIAN   TltlBES. 

—  JOSEPH  BRANT. MILITARY  PREPARATIONS 

IN    THE    SEPARATE    COLONIES. 

Early  in  June,  the  British  forces  in  Boston  had  been  increased 
by  heAx  arrivals  of  troops,  under  Generals  Ilowe,  Burgoyne,  and 
Clinton,  to  more  than  ten  thousand  disciplined  soldiers.  It  was 
with  great  dilTiculty  that  supplies  of  jirovisions  could  be  procured 
for  Sv/  large  an  army,  beleaguered  as  was  the  town  by  a  superior, 
although  undisciplined  force  of  the  provincials.  General  Gage, 
therefore,  first  issued  a  proclamation  of  free  pardon  to  all  who  ^\  ould 
lay  aside  their  attitude  of  rebellion,  and  submit  to  the  royal  author- 
ity, excepting,  however,  the  prime  movers  of  sedition,  John  llan- 
cock  and  Samuel  Adams.  lie  then  formed  a  plan  to  penetrate  the 
enemies'  lines,  and  open  a  free  communication  with  the  country. 

The  intended  movement  became  known  to  the  American  com- 
manders, and  orders  were  immediately  given  for  the  erection  of 
fortifications  on  Bunker  hill,  an  elevation  commanding  the  neck. 
Colonel  William  Prescott,  with  a  body  of  one  thousan<l  men,  was 
commissioned  upon  this  service,  on  the  night  of  the  16th  of  June. 


I 


II 


254 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


Mistaking  bis  point  of  destination,  this  officer  commenced  operations 
at  Breed's  hill,  a  position  nearer  to  the  town,  and  overlooking 
Charlestown,  at  that  time  a  place  of  considerable  size.  Labouring 
with  great  diligence  and  silence,  the  provincials  had  thrown  up, 
before  day-break,  a  low  earthen  redoubt  in  the  form  of  a  square, 
sutBciently  substantial  to  afford  som'^  protection  for  the  troops. 

As  soon  as  these  operations  were  discovered  from  the  harbour,  a 
tremendous  fire  was  opened  upon  the  works  from  the  men-of-war 
which  lay  at  anchor,  from  the  city  artillery,  and  from  floating  bat- 
teries. ^Notwithstanding  the  storm  of  shells  and  balls,  the  provincials 
continued  their  labour,  and  carried  a  trench  and  embankment  from 
the  redoubt  down  the  north-eastern  slope  of  the  hill,  nearly  to  the 
water's  edge.  A  reinforcement  of  several  companies  had,  meanwhile, 
been  thrown  into  the  intrenchment.  As  the  height  commanded 
the  city,  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  prevent  the  establishment  of  a 
battery  there,  in  order  to  maintain  possession  of  Boston;  Gage,  there- 
fore, determined  upon  an  immediate  attempt  to  storm  the  redoubt. 

Three  thousand  men  were  transported  from  the  city  to  the  foot  of 
the  hill,  in  boats.  Major-General  Howe  and  General  Pigot  were  in 
command.  The  most  exposed  point  was  the  interval  between  the 
trench  and  M3*stic  river,  at  the  north-east :  this  was  partially  defended 
by  a  temporary  breast- work  of  hay  and  fencing  stuff.  "The  troops 
of  ^[aspachusetts  occupied  Charlestown,  the  redoubt,  and  part  of  the 
trench ;  those  of  Connecticut,  commanded  by  Captain  Nolton,  and 
those  of  New  Hampshire,  under  Colonel  Starke,  the  rest  of  the 
trench."  Generals  Putnam  and  Warren  were  both  present,  and 
assisting  in  the  directions  of  the  defence.  The  troops  were  very 
scantily  furnished  with  ammunition,  and  very  few  had  bayonets. 

Towards  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  the  arrangements  for  attack 
being  perfected,  the  regulars  marched  up  the  hill;  their  officers  were 
surprised  at  the  silence  from  within  the  redoubt,  for  the  provinci.ils 
reserved  their  fire  until  a  very  near  approach  of  the  enemy.  When 
the  word  was  at  last  given,  so  heavy  and  destructive  was  the  dis- 
charge, that  the  British  fell  back  in  disorder,  and  retreated  to  the  foot 
of  the  hill.  A  second  charge,  to  which  the  troops  were,  with  dilli- 
culty,  marshalled,  resulted  in  a  similar  disaster.  Tiie  number  of 
officers  who  fell  in  these  two  first  attempts  is  astonishing.  "General 
Howe  remained  for  some  time  alone  upon  the  field  of  battle;  all  the 
officers  who  surrounded  him  were  killed  or  wounded." 

The  town  of  Charlestown  had  been  fired  by  order  of  Gage,  at  the 


THE   AMERICAN    KEVOLUTION. 


255 


time  of  the  first  repulse,  and,  consisting  chiefly  of  woo3en  b\iildings, 
was  soon  reduced  to  ashes.  The  scene  had  new  become  one  of 
intense  interest.  Every  hill  and  house-top  from  which  a  view  of  the 
field  could  be  obtained,  was  thronged  with  spectators.  General 
Clinton,  who  had  witnessed  the  second  charge  from  Cop's  hill,  a 
neighbouring  height,  hastened  up,  with  additional  forces.  The  col- 
umns were  again  formed,  and  marched  up  to  the  redoubt,  suffering 
little  from  the  slackened  fire  of  the  provincials,  whose  powder  was 
now  nearly  spent.  At  the  same  time,  the  lateral  trench  was  swept 
by  several  pieces  of  artillery,  which  the  British  had  succeeded  in 
posting  at  its  extremity. 

From  three  several  quarters,  the  regulars  poured  into  the  enclosed 
space  of  the  redoubt,  from  which  the  Americans  were  driven  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet,  defending  themselves  lustily  with  their  muskets 
clubbed.  Their  retreat  was  effected,  with  little  further  loss,  across 
Charlestown  neck,  although  the  passage  was  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire 
from  the  floating  batteries,  and  from  one  of  the  armed"  vessels.  The 
English  immediately  fortified  Bunker  hill,  to  secure  command  of 
the  neck  for  the  future. 

In  this  battle  more  than  one-third  of  the  entire  British  force  were 
either  killed  or  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  provincials  a  little  ex- 
ceeded four  hundred  and  fifty.  Doctor  Joseph  Warren,  recently 
commissioned  as  a  general  officer,  perished  during  the  retreat.  He 
was  shot  down,  it  is  said,  by  an  English  oflicer,  who  borrowed  a 
musket  from  a  private  for  the  purpose. 

The  provincial  congress  of  Massachusetts  had,  ere  this,  declared 
the  colony  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  Gage,  who,  in  the  resolution, 
was  pronounced  "a  public  enemy."  Afler  communication  with  the 
continental  congress,  a  provisional  government  was  organized,  con- 
sisting of  town  deputies  and  a  council.  It  was,  indeed,  plain  to  all 
that  there  was  no  choice  between  a  sanguinary  contest  and  a  humil- 
iating submission.  In  England,  the  popular  feeling,  where  net 
affected  by  the  personal  interest  of  commerce,  was  most  decidedly 
inimical  to  the  rebellious  colonics,  who  had  presumed  to  defy  the 
power  and  question  the  authority  of  the  British  government,  and 
the  coercive  measures  ado})ted  met  with  general  approbation.  It  is 
true  that  there  were  not  a  few  who  foresaw  the  possible  consequences 
of  the  war,  and  deprecated  the  violence  that  might  cause  the  loss  of 
England's  most  valuable  foreign  possession ;  others,  of  yet  more  lib- 
eral sentiments,  felt  and  expressed  a  noble  sympathy  with  their 
Vol.  IV.— 45 


i 


! 


la 


256 


A II E  K 1 C  A   I L  L  U  S  T  RATED. 


transatlantic  brethren  throughout  the  long  and  arduous  struggle 
upon  which  the}'  had  now  entered. 

About  the  1st  of  July,  General  Washington  arrived  at  the  camp, 
near  Boston,  and  assumed  command.  The  presence  of  an  experi- 
enced commander-in-chief  was  absolutely  requisite  in  the  existing 
state  of  the  army.  About  fourteen  thousand  men,  new  to  the  disci- 
pline of  a  camp,  and  very  insufficiently  provided  with  necessary 
accommodations,  stores,  and  ammunition,  were  posted  so  as  to  guard 
the  approaches  to  the  city:  this  line  extended  over  a  space  of  not  far 
from  twelve  miles.  Washington's  head-quarters  were  at  Cambridge. 
Generals  Ward  and  Lee  were  stationed  at  Koxbury  and  Prospect 
hill.  The  latter  position  had  been  fortified  by  the  provincials  im- 
mediately subsequent  to  the  battle  at  Breed's  hill. 

The  more  important  congressional  proceedings  during  the  months 
of  June  and  July,  in  addition  to  those  already  briefly  mentioned,  were 
the  issue  of  bills  of  credit,  redeemable  by  apportionment  among  the 
colonies,  to  the  amount  of  three  millions  of  dollars;  the  establish- 
ment of  a  post-office  system  (at  the  head  of  which  was  Bcnjamia 
Franklin);  and  the  commission  of  emissaries  to  treat  with  the  Indian 
tribes.  These,  and  various  minor  arrangements,  being  concluded, 
congress  adjourned  until  September.  The  attempt  to  gain  over  the 
powerful  confederacy  of  the  Six  Nations,  proved  a  signal  failure, 
except  so  far  as  related  to  the  tribe  of  the  Oneidas,  over  whom  Mr, 
Kirkland,  a  missionary,  had  great  influence.  The  munificence  and 
crafty  policy  of  the  English  Indian  agent.  Sir  William  Johnson,  had 
for  many  years  secured  the  admiration  and  affi;ction  of  the  rest  of 
the  Iroquois;  and,  upon  his  death,  they  proved  equally  loyal  to  his 
son-in-law  and  successor,  Guy  Johnson.  Their  most  celebrated  chief, 
Joseph  Brant,  Thayendanegea,  who  had  been  brought  up  and  edu- 
cated under  Sir  William's  patronage,  received  a  commission  in  the 
British  service,  and  took,  as  we  shall  have  occasion  to  notice,  an 
important  part  in  border  hostilities.  The  character  of  Brant  has 
been  generally  mistaken  by  historians,  and  it  is  only  by  the  research 
of  modern  writers  that  his  abilities  and  good  qualities  have  been 
brought  to  light,  and  the  popular  slanders,  which  pronounced  him  a 
monster  of  cruelty,  refuted. 

Tlie  spirit  which  actuated  the  general  congress  was  also  evinced 
in  the  separate  colonics,  cither  by  popular  movements,  or  the  action 
of  the  provincial  assemblies.  The  authority  of  the  royal  governors 
was,  in  many  instances,  set  at  naught:    troops  were  raised,  and 


V 


THE   AMERICAN    REVOLUTION 


257 


colonial  bills  were  issued  to  defray  the  expense  of  their  maintenance. 
As  heretofore,  the  greatest  conflict  of  public  opinion  was  in  New 
York,  where  the  loyalists  were  enabled  to  make  a  stronger  stand 
than  elsewhere.  The  members  for  New  York,  at  the  late  session  of 
congress,  were  chosen,  not  by  the  assembly,  but  by  a  self  organized 
provincial  congress  elected  by  the  people  at  large. 


KJ    iLJb    iLoi    (L      X     JLi    iL(i       X    i/oj  f% 

fACILLATIXG  POLICY  OF  ENGLAND. PROVISIONS  BY  CONGRESS 

FOR  CARRYING  ON  THE  WAR. — NATAL  OPERATIONS, EXPE- 
DITION A.GAINST  CANADA,  —  SIe'oE  OF  FORT   ST,  JOHN. 

ALLEN'S  ATTEMPT  UPON  MONTREAL. THE  CITY  OCCU- 
PIED BY  MONTGOMERY. — MARCH  TOWARDS  QUEBEC. 


There  is  much  wisdom  in  the  criticism  of  Botta,  uj'on  the  gen- 
eral policy  of  the  British  government  during  these  early  hostilities. 
Ift speaking  of  Gage,  he  says:  "He  arrived  in  America  accompanied 
with  general  affection :  he  left  it  abhorred ;  perhaps  less  through  his 
own  fault  than  that  of  the  ministers,  who,  in  place  of  rigorous 
decrees,  should  have  sent'  powerful  armies;  or  instead  of  armies, 
conciliatory  conditions,  consonant  with  the  opinions  of  Americans. 
But  men  commonly  know  neither  how  to  exert  all  their  force,  nor 
to  surmount  the  shame  of  descending  to  an  accommodation :  hence 
delays,  hesitations,  and  half  measures,  so  often  prove  the  ruin  of 
enterprises." — {Otis^  Translation.) 

The  whole  proceedings  of  the  British  military  and  naval  forces  r,,; 
this  time  were  calculated  rather  to  annoy  and  enrage,  than  to  o^ c- 
awe.  There  were  many  cruisers  busied  upon  the  coast  in  hinder- 
ing the  American  commerce,  and  in  procuring  supplies  for  the 
beleaguered  garrison  at  Boston.  The  sea-port  towns  suffered  from 
their  depredations ;  and,  in  one  especial  instance,  the  action  of  the 
provincials  in  preventing  the  procurance  of  provisions,  &c.,  by  a 
British  vessel,  was  punished  by  bombardment.  This  was  at  Fal- 
mouth, afterwards  Portland,  which  was  destroyed  in  the  month  of 
October  (1775). 

Congress  was  at  this  time  in  session,  having  come  together  early 


I! 


258 


AMERICA  ILLUSTKATED. 


in  the  preceding  month.  Delegates  from  all  the  original  thirteen 
colonies  were  I'resent;  Georgia  had  elected  deputies  since  the  last 
meeting.  The  principal  attention  of  this  body  was  necessarily 
directed  to  the  maintenance  of  the  army,  the  difficulty  of  procuring 
ammunition  and  military  stores  being  very  great.  Privileges  of 
trade  v.'cre  granted  to  vessels  in  which  gun-powder  should  be  im- 
ported, and  sliii^s  were  dispatched  to  distant  foreign  ports,  even  to 
the  coast  of  Guinea,  for  the  purchase  of  this  grand  desideratum  of 
modern  warfare. 

The  three  New  England  colonies,  at  an  early  period  in  the  war, 
commenced  retaliations  upon  British  commerce,  for  the  injuries  com- 
mitted at  sea.  The  first  step  taken  by  the  Massachusetts  assembly, 
was  to  direct  the  arming  of  several  vessels  to  protect  the  sea-coast. 
From  this  they  proceeded  to  authorize  private  adventure,  by  the 
issue  of  Icttcrs-of  marque,  and  the  allowance  of  reprisals.  Courts  of 
admiralty  were  also  instituted  to  decide  prize  claims.  The  priva- 
teers thus  commissioned  were,  however,  restricted  to  the  seizure  of 
vessels  containing  supplies  for  "the  soldiers  who  made  war  against 
the  Americans." 

The  general  congress  adopted,  soon  after,  substantially  the  same 
course.  A  fleet  of  thirteen  vessels  was  ordered  to  be  fitted  out-  in 
the  northern  and  middle  colonies.  Continental  courts  of  admiralty 
were  also  created,  and  the  public  vessels  received  a  general  com- 
mission to  "capture  all  those  which  should  attempt  to  lend  assist- 
ance to  the  enemy,  in  any  mode  whatever."  It  is  singular  to 
observe  the  manner  in  which  congress,  previous  to  the  declaration 
of  independence,  while  adopting  every  measure  of  open  hostility, 
still  aimed  at  a  nominal  distinction  between  rebellion  against  the 
British  government  and  the  resistance  of  illegal  demands — still  pro- 
fessing loyalt}-  to  the  king,  but  denouncing  his  civil  and  military 
officials  in  the  colonies  as  public  enemies. 

In  the  autumn  of  1775,  a  plan  was  consummated  for  the  invasion 
of  Canada.  It  was  supposed  that  the  French  inhabitants  of  that 
province  won  id  rejoice  at  an  opportunity  for  successful  resistance  to 
an  authority  always  galling  to  their  national  pride,  and  recently 
rendered  more  odious  by  the  arbitrary  provisions  of  the  "Quebec 
act."  The  regular  force  at  this  time  stationed  in  Canada  was  very 
small,  and  the  opportunity  seemed  peculiarly  favourable  for  a  bold 
and  unexpactod  offensive  demonstration.  Information  had  also 
been  received  by  congress,  that,  with  the  opening  of  spring,  the 


THE   AMEKICAN   REVOLUTION 


259 


British  government  "was  to  make  a  grand  effort  iu  this  province; 
that  numerous  forces,  arms,  and  munitions,  would  be  poured  into  it, 
in  order  to  attack  the  colonies  in  the  back:  an  operation  which,  if 
not  seasonably  prevented,  might  have  fatal  consequences." 

A  detachment  of  three  thousand  men,  from  New  York  and  New 
England,  under  command  of  General  Schuyler,  was  ordered  to  pen 
etrate  Canada  by  the  route  of  Lake  Champlain,  passing  down  the 
Sore!  to  the  St.  Lawrence.  Brigadier-Generals  Montgomery  and 
AVooster  held  subordinate  commands;  but,  upon  the  detention  of 
Schuyler  at  Albany,  by  sickness,  the  direction  of  the  expedition 
devolved  upon  the  former. 

General  Carleton,  governor  of  Canada,  receiving  intimation  of  the 
approach  of  the  enemy,  endeavoured  to  secure  the  entrance  of  the 
Sorel,  by  dispatching  thither  several  armed  vessels;  but  the  Ameri- 
cans were  in  advance  of  the  movement.  J[ontgomery  entered  the 
river,  and,  landing  his  forces,  laid  siege  to  Fort  St.  John,  which 
commanded  the  passage,  and  was  garrisoned  by  a  considerable  force. 
Advance  parties  were  sent,  by  land,  into  the  neighbouring  Canadian 
districts,  to  circulate  a  proclamation  of  the  Americans,  setting  forth 
the  object  of  the  invasion,  and  calling  upon  the  inhabitants  to  join 
in  driving  the  British  garrisons  from  the  country. 

Many,  accordingly,  enlisted,  and  the  scouting  parties  were  gener- 
ally received  with  kindness  and  hospitality.  Arms  and  provisions 
were  also  furnished  by  the  Canadians.  Colonel  Ethan  Allen  and 
Major  Brown,  in  command  of  one  of  these  advanced  detachments, 
undertook  the  .bold  enterprise  of  an  assault  upon  Montreal.  Brown 
was  unable  to  pass  the  river  in  time  to  cooperate  with  Allen,  and  the 
latter,  at  the  head  of  a  very  small  party,  was  overpowered  by  a 
superior  force,  under  command  of  Governor  Carleton.  Ue  was  sent 
to  England  in  irons. 

Carleton  next  endeavoured  to  relieve  Fort  St.  John,  but,  on  his 
way  thither,  he  met  with  so  warm  a  reception  from  troops  posted 
upon  the  river-bank,  that  a  retreat  was  ordered.  The  fort  surren- 
dered on  the  yd  of  November.  A  number  of  pieces  of  artillery  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Americans,  and  a  considerable  supply  of 
shells  and  balls,  but  the  provisions  and  powder  of  the  garrison  were 
nearly  spent. 

Upon  the  approach  of  the  invading  forces,  Carleton  fled  from  Mon 
treal,  which  was  untenable  against  a  superior  force,  and  Montgomery 
entered  the  city,  without  opposition,  on  the  13th.    lie  took  great 


I 


260 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


pains  to  conciliate  the  inhabitants,  and  succeeded  in  raising  a  body 
of  volunteers  to  supply,  in  some  measure,  the  diminution  of  his 
forces,  by  the  return  home  of  those  whose  term  of  service  had  ex- 
pired. A  necessary  supply  of  warm  clothing  was  also  procured  to 
protect  the  troops  from  the  severity  of  tlie  approaching  winter.  The 
establishment  of  garrisons  at  the  captured  posts,  together  with  the 
defection  alluded  to,  had  reduced  the  effective  force  of  the  invaders 
to  about  three  hundred  men;  but,  with  this  handful  of  troops,  !Mont- 
gomery  commenced  his  march  towards  Quebec,  exposed  to  the  rigours 
of  a  Canadian  w^inter. 


Li    cLL    Xli    iT     <L     Jlj    ixiii       >A<  a 


ARNOID'S    EXPEDITION    AGAINST    QUEPEC:     PASSAGE    OF   TAB 

WILDERNESS:    FAILURE  OF  PROVISIONS;    DEFECTION  OF  ENOS, 

WITH    HIS    COMilAND:    ARRIVAL   AT   THE   CANADIAN   SET- 

TLE3[ENTS:    PROCLAMATIONS:    ARNOLD  At  THE  HEIGHTS 

OF    ABRAHAM:   UNION   WITH   MONTGOMERY:    ATTACK 

ON   QUEBEC:    DEATH   OF   MONTGOMERY;    MORGAN'S 

RIFLE   CORPS.    AMERICAN    FORCES   DRAWN    OFF. 


In  accordance  with  the  plan  of  the  campaign,  while  Montgomery 
seized  upon  Montreal,  Quebec  was  to  be  attacked  from  a  most  unex- 
pected quarter.  Fourteen  companies,  amounting  to  about  eleven 
hundred  men,  were  put  under  command  of  Colonel  Arnold,  in  the 
month  of  September,  with  instructions  to  force  a  passage  through 
the  wilderness,  by  proceeding  up  the  Kennebec  river,  in  Maine, 
thence  across  the  mountains  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Chaudiere,  and 
down  that  stream  to  its  entry  into  the  St.  Lawrence,  near  Quebec. 

To  estimate  the  difficulties  of  such  an  nndcrtvaking,  it  must  be 
considered  that  the  whole  route  la}'  through  an  uninhabited  country; 
that  ever}'  natural  obstacle  of  a  rough,  uncultivated  region,  must  be 
overcome;  that  no  provisions  could  be  procured  on  the  way;  and 
that  all  supplies,  arms,  and  camj)  furniture,  must  be  transported  by 
hand  around  the  portarjes,  or  unnavigable  places  on  the  rivers,  and 
over  the  highlands  to  be  passed  before  reaching  the  Chaudiere. 

As  the  detachment  approached  the  sources  of  the  Kennebec,  the 


THE  AME-ilCAN    REVOLUTION. 


263 


supply  of  provisions  was  nearly  exhausted.  The  soldiers,  woin  out 
by  exposure,  hardship,  and  toil,  and  compelled  to  resort  to  crude 
and  unnatural  aliment,  suflercd  much  from  sickness.  Colonel  Enos, 
being  in  command  of  one  division  of  the  army,  wjis  ordered  to  select 
the  sick  and  unserviceable,  who  were  to  be  sent  back  to  Boston. 
This  officer  accordingly  wi  'idrew  his  entire  command — a  species  of 
desertion,  which  was  afterwards  excused  upon  a  trial  by  court-mar- 
tial, on  the  ground  that  provision  for  the  sustenance  of  the  whole 
body  could  not  by  possibility  have  been  procured. 

Before  reaching  the  Chaudiere,  the  scant  remains  of  food  were 
divided  among  the  soldiers,  and,  at  a  distance  of  thirty  miles  from 
any  settlement,  the  whole  store  was  exhausted.  A  small  scouting 
party,  led  by  Arnold  in  person,  succeeded  in  procuring  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  provision  to  recruit  the  strength  of  their  companions, 
and  enable  them  to  continue  their  march.  Upon  reaching  the  Can- 
adian settlements,  after  more  than  a  month  spent  in  the  wilderness, 
Arnold  issued  proclamations,  drawn  up  by  the  commander-in-chief 
of  the  American  army,  disclahning  all  hostile  intent  towards  the 
people  of  Canada,  and  exhorting  them  to  join  as  brothers  in  a  cause 
of  common  interest. 

The  Americans  were  hospitably  received  and  entertained;  and, 
pursuing  their  march,  they  arrived,  on  the  iHh  of  November,  at 
Point  Levy,  nearly  opposite  the  Canadian  capital,  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  St.  Lawrence.  Unfortunately  for  the  success  of  the  expedi- 
tion, no  boats  could  be  procured  for  the  transportation  of  the  army 
across  the  river. 

"It  is  easy  to  imagine  the  stupor  of  surprise  which  seized  the 
inhabitants  of  Quebec,  at  the  apparition  of  these  troops.  They  could 
not  comprehend  by  what  wa}',  or  in  what  mode,  they  had  trans- 
ported themselves  into  this  region.  This  enterprise  appeared  to 
them  not  merely  marvellous,  but  miraculous;  and  if  Arnold,  in  this 
first  moment,  had  been  able  to  cross  the  river,  and  fall  upon  Quebec, 
he  would  have  taken  it  without  difficulty."* 

Opportunity  was  given,  by  the  delay  thus  occasioned,  for  strength- 
ening the  defences,  and  for  organizing  the  citizen-soldiery.  On  the 
night  of  the  13th  of  November,  Arnold  crossed  the  river,  and  ascended 
the  heights  at  the  spot  memorable  as  the  scene  of  the  decisive  en- 
gagement between  the  French  and  English  in  th.^,  late  war.  The 
American  general  had  hoped  to  come  upon  the  city  by  surprise,  but 

•  Otis'  Bottii. 


262 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


he  ascertained,  upon  a  nearer  approach,  that  the  garrisc  n  was  under 
arms  and  on  the.alert.  His  own  ardent  feelings  impelled  him  to  an 
immediate  assault,  but  he  abandoned  the  rash  design  upon  consid- 
eration of  the  unserviceable  condition  of  the  arms  of  his  troops,  and 
their  very  scanty  stock  of  ammunition.  He  drew  off  his  forces,  and 
retired  to  Point  au  Tremble,  twenty  miles  from  the  city,  there  to 
await  the  arr-val  of  Montgomery, 

The  two  dei.xchments  met  on  the  1st  of  December.  United,  they 
formed  a  body  of  less  than  one  thousand  men,  but  with  these  the 
commanding  oiTicer  determined  to  attack  the  capital.  Carleton  had, 
in  the  mean  time,  made  his  way  to  the  anticipated  scene  of  conflict, 
and  so  disposed  his  available  force  of  regulars  and  of  the  provincial 
militia,  as  to  constitute  an  adequate  garrison.  Arriving  at  Quebec, 
on  the  5th,  Montgomery  summoned  the  city  to  surrender,  but  the 
demand  was  treated  with  contempt,  and  the  bearer  of  the  flag  was 
fired  upon.  For  several  days,  the  general  then  attempted  to  produce 
an  impression  by  playing  upon  the  city  with  a  few  pieces  of  artillery, 
planted  behind  an  embankment  of  ice. 

The  weather  now  became  intensely  cold,  and  frequent  end  heavy 
falls  of  snow  added  to  the  disf^-^mfort  and  suffering  of  the  invaders. 
The  small-pox,  moreover,  broke  out  among  them,  ar.d  spread,  in 
epite  of  all  practicable  precautions.  Every  day  the  chances  of  suc- 
cess were  diminishing,  and  it  was  decided  to  assault  the  city  without 
further  delay.  The  little  army,  in  two  divisions,  led  by  Montgom- 
ery and  Arnold,  made  the  attack  before  day-light,  on  the  Sist  of 
December.  The  garrison  had  obtained  intimation  of  the  design,  and 
preparations  were  completed  for  the  reception  of  the  enemy.  Mont- 
gomery was  killed,  at  the  first  discharge  of  artillery,  and  his  division 
fell  back.  Arnold  entered  the  city  from  the  opposite  quarter,  march- 
ing at  the  head  of  his  troops.  Upon  apjiroaching  a  barricade,  de- 
fended by  two  jtieces  of  artillery,  he  received  a  severe  wound  in  tlio 
leg  from  a  musket-ball,  which  entirely  disabled  .'uiin.  The  barriciido 
was  forced  by  the  exertions  of  tlie  intrepid  and  active  Morgan,  com- 
mander of  the  rifle  corps;  but  I'urther  defences  ajii)eaied,  we!! 
gu:irded.  A  heavy  fire,  opened  upon  their  front  and  rear,  compelled 
the  little  band  of  assailants  to  disperse,  and  seek  shelter  in  the  build- 
ings. Some  three  hundred  of  them  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Tlic.  remainder  of  the  army  of  invasion  was  drawn  off,  and  encamped 
a  few  miles  from  the  city. 


THE  AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


263 


\j     u)Ji      tifui      X         Ju       ulJ      uib  (i6uk»      wu  • 


WARLIKE  PREPARATIOXS  IN   ENGLAND. GERMAN  MERCENA- 
RIES.—  PROCEEDINGS  OF  CONGRESS:    ENLISTMENTS:    ISSUE  Of 
RILLS.  DEFENCES  IN  NEW  YORK.  —  CONDITION  OF  THE  BRIT- 
ISH IN  BOSTON. OCCUPATION  OF   DORCHESTER  HEIGHTS. 

—  EVACUATION    OF    THE    CITY. — HOPKINS'    CRUISE 
AMONG  THE  BAHAMAS. — AFFAIRS  AT  THE  SOUTH. 

—  ATTACK    UPON    CHARLESTON. RETREAT   OP 

THE    AMERICAN    TROOPS    FROM    CANADA. 


The  state  of  feeling  in  England  at  the  aspect  of  American  affairs, 
in  the  autumn  of  1775,  was  one  of  mingled  mortification,  at  the  bold 
position  taken  and  maintained  by  the  colonics,  and  discontent  with  a 
ministry  which  had  "done  too  much  to  irritate,  too  liale  to  subdue." 
Believing  that  the  time  for  the  adoption  of  conciliatory  policy  had 
passed,  the  government  treated  the  late  petition  of  congress  with 
contempt,  and  hastened  forward  measures  for  increasing  the  regular 
force  in  America.  Enlistments  wore  encouraged  througnout  the 
United  Kingdom,  and,  by  arrangement  with  the  German  princes, 
seventeen  thousand  mercenaries  were  engaged  to  serve  in  America. 
The  whole  force  expected  to  be  raised,  including  those  enlisted  in 
Canada,  was,  numerically,  over  fifty  thousand. 

Tiie  colonies  were  proclaimed  as  being  in  a  state  of  rebellion; 
intercourse  with  tliem  was  forbidden,  and  the  effects  of  the  inhabit- 
anis  were  declared  liable  to  seizure.  In  the  case  of  ves.sels  captured 
under  thi.s  act,  an  infamous  provision  was  added,  by  which  the  Amer- 
ican crews  were  made  liable  to  impressment  and  compulsory  service 
on  board  British  armed  vessels.  Notwithstanding  a  vehement  and 
eloquent  opposition,  these  measures  were  sanctioned  by  a  large  ma- 
jority in  parliament.  Tiic  chief  command  of  the  army  in  America 
was  conferred  upon  General  Howe,  in  place  of  Gage,  who  had  been 
recalled.  The  brother  of  the  former,  Admiral  Lord  Uowe,  com- 
manded the  fleet  destined  to  cooperate  with  tho  land  forces  against 
the  rebellious  colonies. 

The  continental  congress,  meanwhile,  had  not  been  idle.  The 
most  important  jtroceedings  rehxted  to  the  details  of  cidisting  regular 
forces,  by  apportionment  among  the  provinces.  Great  numbers  of 
tho  troops  stationed  before  Boston,  unaccustomed  to  tho  hardship!? 


264: 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


and  tedium  of  military  life,  had  become  completely  disheartened; 
and,  upon  expiration  of  the  short  term  of  their  enlistment,  refused  to 
continue  longer  -with  the  army  upon  any  promises,  or  any  repre- 
sentations of  necessity.  To  meet  the  increasing  expenses  of  the 
war,  an  additional  issue  of  three  millions  in  bills  of  credit  was  re- 
solved upon,  redeemable,  like  the  former,  by  instalments,  payments 
to  commeuce  at  the  expiration  of  eight  years. 

Precautions  were  also  taken,  at  the  opening  of  the  year  1776,  for 
the  defence  of  the  city  of  New  York,  where  the  number  and  influ- 
ence of  the  tories  rendered  dependence  upon  the  local  militia  un- 
safe. Troops  from  New  Jersey  and  Connecticut  were  introduced 
into  the  city,  and  the  command  was  bestowed  upon  General  Lee. 
^fany  acts  of  violence  were  committed  at  this  time  upon  the  persons 
and  property  of  adherents  to  the  royal  cause. 

At  Boston,  the  British  garrison  suffered  much  hardship  through- 
out tlic  winter,  from  deficiency  of  fuel  and  provision.  Many  English 
vessels,  freighted  with  stores,  were  taken  by  the  colonial  privateers, 
and  others  were  lost  on  the  coast.  The  army,  encompassed  by  a 
superior  force,  was  entirely  unable  to  carry  on  any  offensive  opera- 
tions against  the  enemy.  As  spring  approached,  it  appeared  neccs- 
Bar}',  to  congress  and  to  the  officers  of  tlfe  continental  army,  that  a 
decisive  blow  should  be  struck  in  this  quarter,  that  the  besieging 
forces  might  be  free  to  act  wherever  occasion  should  require. 

The  heights  of  Dorchester  commanded  the  city  and  harbour  from 
the  southward,  and  the  attention  of  the  commander-in-chief  was 
directed  to  the  occupation  of  that  important  position.  On  the  night 
of  ^[arch  4th,  1776,  a  force  of  about  two  thousand,  men  well  pro- 
vided with  carts  of  fascines,  &c.,  and  all  necessary  working  imple- 
ments, was  dispatched  upon  this  service.  A  cannonade  was  kept 
up  from  batteries  sufficiently  near  to  throw  shells  into  the  city;  and, 
favoured  by  the  darkness  of  the  night  and  the  direction  of  tlie  wind, 
the  troops  accomplished  the  important  movement  without  discovery 
or  suspicion.  By  day-light,  when  the  British  garrison  first  had  inti- 
mation of  the  proceeding,  substantial  works  had  been  already  erccteil, 
and  the  business  of  intrcnehment  and  fortification  was  going  on  with 
uninterrupted  ardour. 

A  storm  opportunely  ])rovented  the  British  general  from  crossing 
with  his  forces  to  attack  the  redoubt,  and  the  delay  thus  incurred 
gave  sufficient  time  for  completing  the  infreneliinenls,  and  making 
all  needful  preparations  for  defence,  and  for  a  bombardiiieut  of  the 


THE   AMERICAN   REVOLUTION. 


2G5 


city.  ITowe  saw  that  his  position  was  untenable,  and  avowed  his 
determination  to  evacuate  the  city  quietly,  if  undisturbed  in  his 
retreat.  Some  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Boston  waited  upon 
General  Washington,  with  representations  of  the  condition  of  the 
city,  and  requests  that  he  would  comply  with  this  proposal.  Ilis 
assent  was  obtained,  and  the  whole  British  army,  crowded  on  board 
of  ships  and  transports  which  lay  in  the  harbour,  was  allowed  to  set 
sail  unmolested.  The  place  of  their  destination  was  unknown  to  the 
Americans,  and  it  was  feared  that  a  descent  would  be  made  upon 
some  other  portion  of  the  coast.  Fifteen  hundred  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city,  who,  having  openly  taken  part  with  the  loyalists,  feared 
to  remain  after  the  evacuation,  embarked  with  the  British  troops, 
leaving  their  property  subject  to  seizure  and  confiscation. 

The  fleet  sailed  for  Halifax,  the  condition  of  the  troops  being 
entirely  incompatible  with  any  immediate  hostile  demonstration. 
Washington  entered  the  city  with  his  army,  on  the  27th  of  March, 
and  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm  and  rejoicing.  The  em- 
barkation of  the  British  troops  had  occupied  nearly  a  fortnight, 
during  which  period,  the  inhabitants  had  suflered  considerable  injury 
from  the  depredations  of  the  more  lawless  and  disorderly,  who  wan- 
tonly destroyed  great  quantities  of  provisions,  &c.  *  The  British 
artillcr}'  and  munitions  of  war  were  abandoned  to  the  Americans, 
whether  by  private  agreement,  as  a  condition  upon  which  a  peace- 
able evacuation  Avas  permitted,  or  because  of  insufficient  means  of 
transportation,  does  not  distinctly  appear.  Two  hundred  and  fifty 
pieces  of  artillery — mostly  spiked — were  secured  at  Boston  and  the 
neighbouring  fortifications. 

Ere  this  period,  congress  had  commenced  operations  at  sea.  Two 
frigates,  three  corvettes,  and  a  number  of  gun-sloops  were  fitted  out 
and  manned.  With  eight  of  these  vessels,  Connnodore  Hopkins 
sailed  upon  a  cruise  among  the  Bahamas,  in  the  month  of  February. 
The  special  object  was  the  seizure  of  munitions  of  war  known  to  be 
stored  there.  At  New  Providence  a  seasonable  supply  of  gun-pow- 
der, to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  kegs,  was  secured. 

The  southern  colonics,  meanwhile,  were  not  exempt  from  the 
calamitios  of  war.  The  coasts  of  Virginia  were  haras.-'ed  by  a  force 
under  Lord  Dunmoro,  the  former  governor,  who,  at  the  coiumencc- 
ment  of  the  year,  made  an  attack  upon  the  thriving  town  of  Norfolk. 
A  portion  of  the  place  was  burned  by  the  attacking  party,  and  tho 
remainder  was  fired  by  its  defenders  when  no  longer  tenable.     In 


266 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


i 


North  Carolina  severe  contests  took  place,  in  the  month  of  February, 
between  the  provincials  and  loyalists. 

It  was  supposed  in  p]ngland  that  if  a  strong  force  were  once  landed 
m  the  southern  colonies,  those  of  the  inhabitants  who  favoured  the 
royal  cause  would  hasten  to  join  it,  and  that  a  permanent  stand 
might  be  clTocted  in  that  quarter.  In  North  Carolina,  the  tory  inter- 
est was  known  to  have  many  adherents.  A  considerable  fleet,  with 
more  than  two  thousand  soldiers  on  board,  was,  therefore,  sent,  under 
conunand  of  Sir  Peter  Parker,  to  seize  upon  the  more  important 
sea-ports.  The  squadron  w:\a  joined  by  Sir  Ilenry  Clinton,  who 
took  command  of  the  land  forces:  the  city  of  Charleston  was  selected 
as  the  first  point  of  attack. 

Timely  notice  of  these  preparations  had  been  obtained  by  the 
Americans,  and  a  fort  was  erected  on  Sullivan's  island  to  protect 
the  harbour.  General  Lee  was  entrusted  with  the  principal  com- 
mand. On  the  28th  of  June,  the  British  fleet  entered  the  harbour, 
and  commenced  bombarding  the  fort.  A  small  regiment,  under 
Colonel  Moultrie,  was  stationed  at  that  important  post.  The  fire 
was  returned  with  great  eflect,  and  the  plans  of  the  admiral  being 
thwarted  by  the  grounding  of  several  of  his  vessels,  the  attempt  was 
abandoned.  No  landing  was  effected,  and  the  fleet  set  sail  for  New 
York,  the  api)ointed  rendezvous  for  the  reinforcements  ordered  from 
England  and  the  German  states. 

Kvery  thing  had  been  prepared  at  the  city  of  Charleston  to  give 
the  invaders  a  warm  reception.  Great  numbers  of  the  militia  had 
been  called  in  to  increase  the  garri.'^on,  and  such  measures  were  taken 
for  the  defence  of  the  place  as  time  and  opportunity  permitted. 
The  enemy's  loss,  during  the  cannonade,  could  not  have  been  much 
les.sthan  twohundred;  that  of  the  garrison  at  the  fort  was  very  triflinir. 

III  Canada,  the  American  forces  elVectod  nothing.  IJeinforcemcnta 
wen;  repeatedly  sent  out  to  the  c:unp,  but  when  British  forces  Ix-gaii 
to  pour  into  the  country,  the  trooi>s,  after  several  disastrous  attempts 
to  retrieve  their  fortune,  were  drawn  off,  and  retreated  homeward 
by  Lrd<e  Champlain.  The  loss  of  .<;everal  valuable  ollicers,  of  a  great 
number  of  men,  and  a  great  expenditure  of  money — not  continental 
bills,  but  hard  cash — were  the  only  results  of  the  Canadian  expedi- 
tion, concerning  which  such  sanguine  expectations  had  been  formed. 
The  remnant  of  the  army  of  invasion  returned  in  miserable  plight, 
nearly  destitute,  and,  worse  tlian  all,  utterly  discouraged  and 
dispirited. 


cen 
(1. 

iiiir. 
•iita 
:;m 

,arcl 

Tcat 

ital 

lied. 
rht, 
and 


THE  AMERICAN    REVOLUTION.  267 


BTATE   OF    FEELING    IN    THE   COLONIES.  —  PAINE'S   WRITINGS 

—  DERATES  IN  CONGRESS.  —  THE  DECLARATION   OF   INDE- 

FENDENCE:     ITS     EFFECT     UPON     THE     PEOPLE. —  THE 

BRITISH    AT    STATEN     ISLAND.  —  PROCLAMATION 

OF   GENERAL    AND    OP    ADMIRAL    HOWE. 

The  formation  of  independent  systems  of  government  in  the  sep- 
arate colonies,  familiarized  the  minds  of  the  American  people  with 
the  idea  of  a  permanent  disconnection  with  the  British  government. 
Wliile  the  thought  of  state  sovereignty  was  flattering  to  the  pride 
of  the  provincials,  it  was  evident  that,  without  some  established 
political  connection,  no  great  national  object  could  be  obtained. 
Long  before  the  revolution,  it  is  said  that  the  chiefs  and  orators  of 
the  Iroquois,  or  Six  Nations,  advised  the  adoption,  by  the  colonics, 
of  a  federal  union  similar  to  their  own,  proving,  from  their  individ- 
ual experience,  the  practicability  of  union  for  all  purposes  of  common 
interest,  without  infringement  of  the  rights  of  each  distinct  tribe. 

In  the  winter  of  1776,  a  work,  entitled  "  Common  Sense,''^  written 
by  Thomas  Paine,  an  Englishman,  residing  in  Pennsylvania,  made 
its  appearance.  By  shrewd  reasoning,  logical  argument,  and  popu- 
lar declamation,  the  author  endeavoured  to  establish  the  practica- 
bility, and  even  necessity,  of  American  independence,  at  the  same 
time  that  he  excited  the  feelings  of  the  people,  by  a  vivid  rei)resent- 
ation  of  the  disgrace  and  misery  that  must  follow  close  upon  submis- 
sion to  England.  The  book  was  extensively  circulated,  and  exercised, 
beyond  question,  a  most  powerful  influence. 

The  late  action  of  parliament,  in  the  employment  of  Hessian  mer- 
cenaries to  serve  in  America,  and  the  enlistment  of  the  Indian  border 
tribes  in  favour  of  the  royal  cause,  produced  a  storm  of  popular 
indignation.  The  petition  of  congress  had  been  spurned  with  dis- 
dain; no  measures  but  those  of  force  had  met  with  favour  in 
England;  and  it  was  now  plain  that  nothing  was  left  to  the  colonies 
but  an  open  declaration  to  the  world  of  their  determination  to  sunder 
for  ever  all  ties  with  a  government  whose  protection  had  only  been 
extended  for  selfish  ends. 

"At  this  epoch,"  says  an  early  writer,  "America  was  found  in  a 


! 


I 


-lAJ 


268 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


Strange  situation,  and  actually  unheard  of  till  then.  The  war  sho 
had  carried  on  with  so  much  vigour,  now,  for  more  than  a  year,  was 
directed  against  a  king  to  whom  she  incessantly  renewed  her  pro- 
testations of  obedience;  and  the  same  men  who  committed  all  the 
acts  of  rebellion,  Avould  by  no  means  be  called  rebels.  In  all  the 
tribunals  justice  Avas  still  administered  in  the  name  of  the  king; 
and  in  the  churches  prayers  were  continually  repeated  for  the  pre- 
servation and  happiness  of  that  prince,  whose  authority  was  not  only 
entirely  rejected,  but  also  fought  against  with  incredible  obstinacy." 

The  first  step  taken  by  congress  in  furtherance  of  the  popular 
cause,  was  a  recommendation  to  such  of  the  colonies  as  had  not 
already  adopted  a  provisional,  independent,  civil  government,  to 
proceed  to  the  establishment  of  "such  governments  as,  according  to 
the  opinion  of  the  representatives  of  the  people,  should  be  most 
conducive  to  the  happiness  of  their  constituents,  and  of  America  in 
general."  This  proposal  was  generally  acted  upon,  and,  in  many 
instances,  the  congressional  delegates  were  formally  invested  by  the 
colonial  assemblies  with  power  to  act  ujion  the  anticipated  question. 

A  motion  in  favour  of  American  independence  was  made  in  con- 
gress on  the  7th  of  June,  and,  on  the  following  day,  was  debated 
with  great  ability  and  eloquence,  llichard  Uenry  Lee,  of  Virginia, 
who  advocated  the  motion,  and  John  Dickinson,  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  argued  in  opposition,  were  the  principal  speakers.  The  decision 
of  the  question  was  postponed  until  July,  that  full  opportunity 
might  be  given  to  the  members  to  receive  instructions  from  their 
constituents. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  that  memorable  instrument,  known  as 
the  "Declaration  of  Independence,"  was  signed  by  delegates  from 
the  thirteen  original  colonies,  thenceforth  the  United  States  of 
America.  It  was  understood  to  have  been  princi{ially  drawn  up  by 
Thomas  Jeflcrson,  who,  with  John  Adams,  Benjamin  Fraid^liii, 
Koger  Sherman,  and  Philip  Livingston,  had  been  ai)pointed  to  pre- 
pare it,  previous  to  the  late  adjournment. 

The  preamble  commences:  "When  in  the  course  of  human 
events,  it  becomes  neees-ary  for  one  people  to  dissolve  the  political 
bands  which  have  connected  ihem  with  another,  and  to  assume, 
among  the  powers  of  the  earth,  the  separate  and  equal  station  to 
which  the  laws  of  nature  and  of  nature's  God  entitle  them,  a  decent 
regard  to  the  opinions  of  mank'nd  requires  that  they  shou'  1  tii.Jare 
the  causes  which  impel  them  to  the  separation."     Then  follow  a 


Tf  fji'"-  v.T'ri"'  T?*"*".  ■ ' 


wn  as 

from 

cs  of 

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iiiniin 

iumo, 
n\  to 
ccent 
lare 
ow  n 


THE   AMERICAN    llEVOLUTiON. 


269 


declaration  of  rights,  natural  and  political,  a  forcible  recapitulation 
of  wrongs  inflicted  by  the  British  government,  with  a  reference  to 
the  neglect  or  contempt  with  which  all  petitions  for  redress  had 
be(?n  received,  and,  in  conclusion,  it  is  boldly  asserted,  "that  these 
united  colonics  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent 
states;  that  they  are  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  British 
crown,  and  that  all  political  connexion  between  them  and  the  State 
of  Great  Britain  is,  and  ought  to  be,  totally  dissolved."  Tlie  sense 
of  personal  responsibility  felt  by  the  fifty-five  members  who  signed 
the  document,  is  expressed  in  the  closing  words:  "And,  for  the 
support  of  this  declaration,  with  a  firm  reliance  on  the  protection  of 
Divine  Providence,  we  mutually  pledge  to  eaclir  other  our  lives,  our 
fortunes,  and  ou''  sacred  honour." 

In  all  the  ^  rincipal  cities,  the  intelligence  of  this  act  of  congress 
was  received  with  the  most  extravagant  expressions  of  joy.  The 
exultation  of  the  army  was  boundless,  and  the  populace,  mad 
with  excitement,  celebrated  the  event  with  noisy  demonstrations. 
Royal  statues  and  insignia  were  every  where  thrown  down  and 
destroyed.  At  Xew  York,  an  image  of  George  III.,  formed,  by  a 
felicitous  propriety,  of  lead,  was  converted  into  musket-balls.  Tlie 
condition  of  all  acknowledged  or  sus[)ected  tories  was  lamentable, 
and  to  correct  and  moderate  the  exccs,ses  committed  upon  this  class 
of  inhabitants,  congress  took  the  matter  in  hand,  instituting  commit- 
'  tees  to  exert  a  constraining  power  over  those  who  were  suspected 
of  favouring  the  enemy.  "The  most  obnoxious  tories  had  already 
emigrated;  and,  for  the  present,  the  new  governments  contented 
themselves  with  admonitions,  fines,  recognizances  to  keep  the  peace, 
and  prohibitions  to  go  beyond  certain  limits."* 

The  recommencement  of  hostilities  was  followed  by  a  long  suc- 
cession of  most  dislicartening  reverses.  The  British  forces  had 
already  edccted  a  landing  upon  Staten  Island,  where  they  encamped 
and  opened  communications  with  the  loyalists  in  the  adjoining  prov- 
inces. Strengthened  by  arrivals  from  England,  and  by  the  return 
northward  of  the  troops  embarked  under  Sir  Peter  Pai'ker,  for  the 
southern  expedition,  to  a  force  of  more  than  twent}'  thousand  men, 
General  Uowo  prepared  for  a  descent  upon  New  York.  An  attemjit 
to  open  negotiations  with  congress,  and  with  the  commander-in-chief 
of  the  American  army,  had  previously  failed,  from  the  refu.sal  of  the 
British  officials  to  treat  otherwise  than  as  with  private  individuals. 

*  llildretli. 


M 


^ 


I 


I  i 

r  » 


270 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


The  result  of  an  interview,  afterwards  brought  about,  between  Gen- 
eral and  Admiral  Howe,  and  deputies  commissioned  by  congress, 
was  only  to  convince  the  former  that  no  terms  would  be  listened  to 
which  they  were  empowered  to  grant. 

The  two  brothers  Howe  were  commissioned  by  the  king  to  gram 
discretionary  pardon  to  all  in  the  colonies  who  would  consent  to 
renew  their  allegiance.  Proclamations  were  issued  in  accordance 
with  this  commission,  calling  upon  all  loyal  subjects  to  separate 
themselves  from  the  rebels,  and  representing  to  the  malcontents  the 
desperate  condition  to  which  further  resistance  must  reduce  them, 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  submission  would  ensure  present  safety, 
and  the  royal  promise  for  a  future  redress  of  all  grievances. 


vj  iLJi   iLit   JT    iL    Ju   iLti      lAi   X    X    JL  • 

LANDING    OF    THE    BRITISH    ON    LONG    ISLAND. — BATTLE    OF 

BROOKLYN. — THE  AMERICAN  FORCES    DRIVEN  FROM  LONG 

ISLAND. — OCCUPATION   OF   NEW  YORK   BY   THE  BRITISH. 

WASHINGTON'S   ENCAMPMENT  AT  HARLEM   HEIGHTS: 

AT  WHITE  PLAINS. — STORMING  OF  PORT  WASHING- 
TON.—  THE   RETREAT   THROUGH    NEW   JERSEY. 

CAPTURE    OF    GENERAL    LEE. CONDITION    OF 

PRISONERS. — LAKE  CHAMPLAIN:    DESTRUC- 
TION OF  THE  AMERICAN  VESSELS. — GEN- 
EROSITY OF  CARLETON.  —  RHODE  ISLAND 
SEIZED    BY    THE    BRITISH. 

Anticipating  an  attack  by  way  of  Long  Island,  General  "Wash- 
ington posted  a  force  of  about  nine  thousand  men,  under  General 
Putnam,  at  Brooklyn.  The  approach  to  the  American  camp  from 
the  point  where  the  British  were  expected  to  land,  was  by  four 
roads,  two  leading  over  the  intervening  hills,  and  the  others,  less 
direct,  deviating  in  opposite  directions,  one  along  the  western  shore, 
the  other  eastward.  These  avenues,  owing  to  some  misapprehension 
or  bad  management,  were  insufficiently  guarded. 

The  British  having  landed  on  the  22d  of  August  (1776),  com- 
menced their  march  towards  Brooklyn,  on  the  night  of  the  26th 
Upon  the  first  intelligence  of  their  approach,  two  divisions  of  the 


;>r'^?*#^ 


s 


t 


%\ 


'"^*-it'-.. 


270  AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 

The  result  of  an  interview,  afterwards  brought  about,  between  Gen- 

ifiv-  'frt»|t^ftt  r^  tcrlv  v.t«ron3t^  •?**'  *-^^twl  to 

»,,    Mji'h -.-iLMK  '    ly  t]ie;'^aig  lo^i^M 

■  jf*.  I.  ,j^,j..  ^\'!  „^;,.r    u  u>.'S    v'..^,  ^i_.onltf'oo.ni»^j. 

••jtuv  '    m-  ■.vol'      -i:ad  in'ac5co?dw.  ■••; 

. -..-.sioti,.  c*»'  ill    luj .  i       -liycts.  to  neprtTrtte 

:  '   \  •      .  J  ■!.  iNe  reb(;l    u    /  .  ^j^res*.    ;  'n-  to  tiie  nialccnrc-uts  the 

;    .•./•;  ■        ititvj  to  which  iart her  rt.  i-iuace  must  rcuice  tlieiii, 

•     :!•    II  t:  •     >tlivr  hand,  gubroission  would  ensure  present  safety, 

>    ,    '     -  1.:."  •  -ornise  for  a  fatiire  redreas  of  jill  grievances. 


'    .-.  > «.  i 


1     T  T  T  T 

.    «.  W^.V)  Al  WU  Ur     • 


7! OS  6P  h     =*■ 


■(    '  i    i  :i  I 


-  \l  .  .    .:  },•    Msst&tld- 
:.. ;  •  \  V  tssELs. — Cj.>;- 

'.  !-v     --EHODB  ISLAliD       - 
I        !:  •     BRITISH.  ■      ' 


'i'iu    W' 


./:.,(>•:•.  by  way  of  Long  Island,  H.  'leral  Wash 

•    Kkov*  "'■•«>  thou^nd  ineft,  uad..'r  6encn> 

i  tM*  »m*«*»ch  t..  tfte  American  camp  Trfj" 

't?^r>**A,  :*»*/<  e?ifp«t.!.eu   to  land,  wa,*^  Iv  fr^-- 

\*»?  u^  sA-lwrv^ning  hillis,  and  the  other?,  U-rs 

^!i^;.«ft^#?»*»i'eetions,  one  along  the  westem  aU..re, 

->  «i^uuo.->,  ovvirr;  tosome  misapprt'ttiSj-Mon 
'  fh^uifieiently  guarded. 
-iad.,i  c-n  the  22d.of  Aupfu^i;  (17T«^,  com- 
r  march  !-:*wst'  Is  I>ruok|'r,  ou  ihe  Ti\p\  of  tn*:  2t>th 
rat  iDteUii^'wr  ■    >  f  iV: -r  ujprdach,  tuo  •iiviBt<iB»  <.tf  tlie 


igemi 
sh  hav 


^^MiiidUbUiMi 


U'cen  Gen- 

OCCOid^i  '■■■, 

to  :)ef»;yftte 
onteuta  tlie 
fiuce  tbem, 
sent  pafcty, 


•.cim  OP 

"-¥  lOSG 


:i  Wnsb 
Gener.*.' 

y  fc  .' 
Lher?,  U«?s 
■ru  ali»..re. 


;,  cotr.- 
''!«.  2Hth 
B"  <?f  the 


t 


— *- 


il 


!     ^ 


Am 
rep( 
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thrc 
mos 
pur 

by 

was 
mac 
met 
( 
acr( 

of: 

can 
Tli( 
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pas: 
slai] 
on 
in 
ren( 
loss 
aba 
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of 
the 
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ace 
tag 
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Tl 
A 

bj 
ai 
ai 


THE  AMERICAN   REVOLUTION. 


271 


American  army,  under  Sullivan  and  Stirling,  were  dispatched  to 
repel  the  advance  over  the  hills  and  by  the  western  road.  The 
opposing  forces  were  already  engaged,  when  the  Americans  were 
thrown  into  confusion  by  an  attack  in  the  rear — Clinton,  with  the 
most  eflicient  portion  of  his  troops,  having  made  a  detour  for  that 
purpose,  by  the  unguarded  eastern  approach.  Stirling's  division, 
by  hard  lighting,  mostly  regained  the  camp,  but  that  of  Sullivan 
was  destroyed  or  compelled  to  surrender.  Both  these  generals  were 
made  prisoners,  together  with  not  far  from  one  thousand  of  theii 
men.     A  heavy  loss  was  also  sustained  in  killed  and  wounded. 

On  th  )  night  of  the  29th,  the  American  troops  effected  a  retreat 
across  lae  East  river,  to  New  York,  leaving  the  enemy  in  possession 
of  Lonj];  Island.  The  main  force  of  the  continentals  was  now  en- 
camped a*^  the  heights  of  Harlem,  or  within  the  city  of  New  York. 
The  British  had  control  of  the  surrounding  waters,  the  defences 
erected  upon  the  Hudson  having  proved  insufficient  to  prevent  a 
passage  up  the  river.  Under  protection  of  a  heavy  fire  from  the 
shipping,  a  landing  upon  the  island  was  effected  by  General  Howe 
on  the  15th  of  September.  The  troops  drawn  up  in  opposition,  fled 
in  the  most  cowardly  manner,  and  an  evacuation  of  the  city  was 
rendered  absolutely  necessary.  The  Americans  sustained  severe 
loss  in  artillery  and  stores,  which,  upon  their  hasty  retreat,  were 
abandoned  to  the  enemy. 

Washington's  forces,  securely  posted  upon  the  heights  of  Harlem, 
awaited  the  movements  of  t'le  British.  The  latter  kept  possession 
of  the  North  river,  and  made  advances  down  the  northern  shore  of 
the  Sound.  It  became  necessary  to  occupy  a  position  further  north, 
to  avoid  being  cut  off  from  supplies,  and  a  new  camp  was  formed, 
accordingly,  at  "White  Plains.  The  enemy  gained  a  further  advan- 
tage in  a  partial  engagement  on  the  28th  of  October,  in  which  a 
detachment  of  between  one  and  two  thousand  Americans  was  driven 
from  its  position  near  the  main  camp,  with  great  loss. 

Forts  Washington  and  Lee,  which  were  intended  to  command  the 
passage  of  the  Hudson,  being  situated  upon  opposite  banks  of  the 
river,  a  few  miles  above  New  York,  were  the  next  objects  of  attack. 
They  had  been  strongly  garrisoned,  when  the  main  body  of  the 
American  army  moved  northward.  The  first  of  these  was  taken 
by  storm,  not  without  severe  loss  on  the  part  of  the  assailants, 
and  two  thousand  prisoners  were  secured.  Fort  Lee  was  soon 
after  hastily  evacuated ;  the  artillery  of  both  strongholds,  to- 
Vol.  IV.— 46 


i 


272 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


gether  with  a  great  amount  of  valuable  stores,   was  lost  to  the 
Americans. 

This  was  in  the  middle  of  November:  the  continental  army, 
reduced  by  these  losses,  by  desertion,  and  by  the  expiration  of  the 
terms  of  enlistment,  to  between  three  and  four  thousand  men,  was 
driven  from  post  to  post  in  'New  Jersey.  Slowly  retiring  before  a 
greatly  superior  force,  Washington  occupied  in  succession  the  towns 
of  Newark,  Brunswick,  Princeton,  Sterling,  and  Trenton.  Ilis 
troo]is,  disheartened  by  defeat,  and  worn  out  b}^  marching  and  ex- 
posure, were  in  a  condition  of  miserable  destitution,  while  the  pur- 
suers were  well  su]>plied  with  the  necessaries  and  conveniences  of  a 
campaign. 

Lord  Cornwallis,  with  an  overwhelming  force,  continued  to  press 
upon  the  retreating  army,  and,  on  the  2d  of  December,  Washington 
transported  his  troops  across  the  Delaware,  taking  the  usual  precau- 
tions to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  pursuers  by  the  destruction  of 
bridges  and  the  removal  of  boats.  The  British  took  possession  of 
Trenton  and  the  adjoining  country,  but  neglected  to  push  their 
advantage  by  an  immediate  passage  of  the  river. 

Washington,  anxious  to  recruit  his  forces,  had  issued  orders  to 
other  divisions  of  the  army  to  join  him  with  all  expedition.  General 
Lee,  from  a  spirit  of  insubordination  or  self-sufficiency,  was  dilatory 
in  obeying  the  order.  Avoiding  the  British  army,  by  a  detour, 
he  occupied  the  highlands  at  tlie  westward,  apparently  in  hopes  of 
efl'ecting  some  bold  manoeuvre  on  his  own  account.  Exposing  him- 
self carelessly,  with  an  insufficient  guard,  he  was  betrayed  by  torios, 
-nd  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Tlic  refusal  of  the  British 
authorities  to  consider  him  a  prisoner  of  war.  on  the  ground  that, 
having  been  an  ofTicer  in  tlic  English  service,  he  was  cnly  to  bo 
looked  upon  as  a  traitor,  led  to  retaliation  upon  prisoners  in  the 
hands  of  the  Americans.  Exchanges  were  impeded,  and  a  sense  of 
mutual  injury  led  to  lamentable  results. 

Of  the  American  prisoners  in  New  York,  it  is  said  that,  "they 
were  shut  up  in  churches,  and  in  other  places,  cxj)Osed  to  all  the 
inclemencies  of  the  air.  They  were  not  allowed  sufficient  nourish- 
ment; their  fare  was  scanted,  even  of  coarse  bread,  and  certain  ali- 
ments which  excited  disgust.  The  sick  were  confined  with  the 
healthy,  both  equally  a  prey  to  the  most  shocking  defect  of  cleanli- 
ness. *  *  A  confined  and  impure  air  engendered  mortal  diseases 
more  than  liiloeu  hundred  of  these  unfortunate  men  perished  in  a 


l. 


THE  AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


273 


few  weeks,"  Lee  was  afterwards  cxehanged  for  General  Prcscott, 
who  was  surprised  and  captured  at  his  quarters,  on  Ehodc  Island, 
by  a  small  party  of  Americans. 

During  the  autumn  of  1776,  and  the  early  portion  of  the  ensuing 
winter,  fortune  seemed  to  frown  upon  the  American  cause  in  every 
quarter.  vVt  the  north,  the  possession  of  Lake  Champlain  was  an 
object  of  eager  contention.  Both  parties  busied  themselves  in  the 
construction  of  vessels,  for  which  the  British,  under  Carleton,  had 
far  greater  facilities  than  the  Americans.  The  little  squadron  of  the 
latter,  commanded  by  Arnold,  was  defeated  on  the  6th  and  7th  of 
October.  One  of  the  vessels  was  taken,  and  the  others  were  de- 
stroyed, to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The 
American.-^,  however,  still  held  Fort  Ticonderoga. 

The  British,  having  possession  of  the  lake,  n.'^.dc  no  farther  attempt 
upon  the  American  fortifications,  but  mostly  retired  to  Montreal,  a 
garrison  being  left  at  Isle  au  Noix.  It  is  pleasing  to  revert  to  acts 
of  kindness  and  generosity  in  the  midst  of  scenes  calculated  to  arouse 
every  bad  passion  in  the  minds  of  men.  Such  are  recorded  of 
Carleton,  of  whom  it  is  said,  that  "prior  to  his  retreat,  from  the 
singular  courtesy  and  humanity  of  his  character,  he  sent  to  their 
'homes  the  American  officers  who  had  fallen  iiito  his  power,  adminis- 
tering generously  to  all  their  wants.  He  exercised  the  same  hun^ianity 
towards  the  common  soldiers.  The  greater  part  were  almost  naked: 
he  caused  them  to  be  completely  clothed,  and  set  them  at  liberty, 
after  having  taken  their  oath  that  they  would  not  servo  against  the 
armies  of  the  king." — {IJotta.) 

Early  in  December,  the  British  secured  another  important  position 
in  New  England.  A  fleet,  under  Sir  Peter  Parker,  with  large  forces 
of  English  and  UcssianvS,  commanded  by  General  Clinton,  cntercil 
Narragansctt  Bay.  The  island  of  Rhode  Island,  with  those  of  Con- 
anicut  and  Prudence,  were  occuj)ied  without  resistance;  the  ex- 
cellent harbour  of  Newport  allbrdcd  admirable  facilities  for  future 
operations  by  sea;  and,  as  the  entrance  to  the  bay  was  »^ommanded, 
the  American  squadron,  under  Commodore  Hopkins,  ti>gethcr  with 
a  number  of  jirivato  armed  vessels,  was  prevented  from  putting  to 
pca,  and  rendered,  for  the  time,  useless. 

So  dark  wore  the  prospects  of  the  patriot.s,  at  this  crisis,  that  many 
nmong  the  most  sanguine  were  discouraged;  and,  of  the  wavering, 
antl  of  those  who,  at  heart,  favcmred  the  royal  cause,  great  numbers 
availed  themselves  of  the  olVera  proclaimed  by  the  Howes,  by  ao- 


n 


i?S 


I! 


i 


274 


AMERICA  ILLUSTKATED. 


knosvlcdgiiig  allegiance  to  the  king,  and  the  acceptance  of  a  British 
protection.  Allen  and  Galloway,  former  members  of  the  continental 
congress,  from  Pennsylvania,  were  among  the  number  of  those  who 
thus  avowed  their  disapproval  of  the  revolution,  or  their  distrust  iu 
the  ability  of  its  advocates  to  carry  out  the  great  design. 


uilAiriJuirl    AiV. 

CONGRESS   AT   BALTIMORE,  —  ARMY  ORGANIZATION.  —  TOWERS 
CONFERRED   UPON  WASHINGTON. PASSAGE  OF  THE  DELA- 
WARE, AND   RECOVERY   OF   TRENTON.  —  BATTLE   OF    PRINCE- 
TON.—  END   OF   THE   CAMPAIGN. — MARAUDING    PARTIES 
NEGOTIATION    WITH   EUROPEAN    POWERS. — FOR- 
EIGN   OFFICERS    IN    THE    AMERICAN    SERVICE. 

Congress,  being  in  session  at  Philadelphia  when  the  continental 
army  was  driven  across  the  Delaware,  found  itself  in  too  dangerous 
proxin.ity  to  the  British  army,  and  an  adjournment  to  Baltimore 
speedily  followed  the  establii^hment  of  the  latter  at  Trenton.  The 
details  of  military  organization  necessarily  occupied  almost  the  un^ 
divided  attention  of  this  body.  The  straits  to  which  the  continental 
army  was  reduced,  by  the  diminution  of  its  numbers,  consequent 
upon  the  expiration  of  terms  of  enlistment,  rendered  the  establish- 
ment of  a  more  permanent  force  a  matter  of  pressing  necessity. 
This  mcnsure  had,  all  along,  been  vehemently  urged  by  Washington, 
who  had  fully  experienced  the  dilTiculty  of  preserving  discipline  in 
an  ami}'  whose  materials  were  subject  to  constant  change.  Pro- 
vision, therefore,  was  made  for  the  enlistment,  by  apportionment 
among  the  provinces,  of  troops  to  serve  during  the  v  iir,  or  for  a 
period  of  three  years.  The  first,  in  addition  to  a  present  bounty 
in  money,  wore  to  receive  each  one  hundred  acres  of  public  land 
on  retiring  from  service. 

Absolute  discretionary  powers  were,  at  the  same  time,  bestowed 
upon  the  Commander-in-chief,  for  the  six  months  succeeding,  "to  call 
into  service  the  militia  of  the  several  states;  to  form  such  miigazinea 
of  provisions,  and  in  such  places  as  he  should  think  proper;  lo  c^»8- 
place  and  appoint  all  officers  under  the  rank  of  brigad'oi-gcnoral, 


THE   AME     ICAN    EEVOLUTIOX, 


275 


and  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  in  everj'  other  department  in  tlie  Amer- 
ican armies;  to  take,  \vlierever  lie  might  be,  wht^tever  he  might 
want  for  the  use  of  the  army,  if  the  inhabitants  would  not  sell  it, 
allowing  a  reasonable  price  for  the  same;  to  arrest  and  confine  per- 
sons who  refused  to  take  the  continental  currencv,  or  were  otherwise 
disalTectcd  to  the  American  cause;  returning  to  the  states  of  which 
they  were  citizens  their  names  and  the  nature  of  their  oiU'uccs,  with 
the  proofs  to  substantiate  them."  Very  large  additional  i^s^c3  of 
paper  money  had  been  made  during  the  session,  and  the  most 
stringent  regulations  soon  followed  to  enforce  its  receipt. 

Never  were  the  powers  of  a  dictator  more  worthily  bestowed  than 
in  this  instance.  General  Washington  exhibited,  in  the  melancholy 
state  of  affairs  consequent  upon  the  capture  of  XewYork,  an  energy 
corresponding  to  the  requirements  of  his  position.  The  army  had 
been  reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  Lee's  division,  under  Sullivan,  and 
by  the  militia  from  the  adjoining  counties.  Thus  strengthened,  he 
determined  to  enter  at  once  upon  offensive  operations. 

The  enemy's  force  being  widely  extended  along  the  left  bank  of 
the  Delaware,  a  division  of  fifteen  hundred  men,  mostly  Hessians, 
under  Italic,  constituted  the  entire  army  of  occupation  at  Trenton. 
On  the  night  of  December  2oth,  Washington  crossed  the  river,  with 
twenty-five  hundred  men,  nine  miles  above  the  city.  The  cold  was 
severe,  and  the  stream  being  blocked  with  floating  ice,  nearly  the 
whole  night  was  consumed  in  the  business  of  transportation. 

At  four  o'clock,  on  tiie  following  morning,  the  army  was  put  in 
motion,  in  two  divis;  — one  following  the  river,  the  other  proceed- 
ing by  the  Pennington  road,  further  to  the  left.  Although  it  proved 
impracticable,  from  the  state  of  the  roads,  and  the  dilficnlty  of  a 
night  march — rendered  doubly  arduous  by  an  inclement  wintry 
storm — to  arrive  before  day,  the  surprise  was  no  less  complete. 
The  Hessians  were  overpowered,  and  driven  in  on  all  sides;  their 
retreat  was  cut  oil'  in  the  direction  of  Princeton;  their  commander 
was  slain;  nnd  two-thirds  of  the  whole  force  surrendered  at  discre- 
tion. The  remainder  escaped  by  the  Bordentown  road.  The  Ainer- 
cans  rrcrossod  tln^  river,  with  their  prisoners,  having  sustained  but 
a  trilling  loss — only  about  ten,  in  killed  and  wounded. 

A  few  days  subsequent,  Washington  having  again  occupied  Tren- 
ton, n  ])oworful  army,  under  Cornwalli.s,  approached  the  town  from 
the  direction  of  Princeton.  One-half  of  the  American  forces  were 
undifloiplined  militia,  and  all  were  ill  prepared  for  the  hardships  of  u 


276 


AMEKICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


winter  cainiiaign.  A  general  engagement  would  have  been  hazard- 
ous in  the  extreme,  and,  at  a  council  of  the  American  officers,  it 
was  concluded  to  make  an  attempt  at  turning  the  enemies'  flank. 
Precautions  were  taken  to  leave  the  impression  that  active  prepara- 
tions were  in  process  for  intrenchment,  while  the  main  army  (on  the 
night  of  January  2d,  1777,)  silentl}'  defiled  upon  the  Alleutown 
road,  towards  Princeton. 

At  the  latter  place,  three  British  regiments,  left  in  the  rear  by 
Cornwallis,  were  encountered.  One  of  these,  after  some  hard  light- 
ing, pushed  on  towards  Trenton:  the  other  two,  having  sustained 
considerable  loss,  retreated  to  Brunswick.  Some  three  hundred 
prisoners  were  taken  by  the  Americans. 

The  British,  at  Trenton,  deceived  by  the  continuance  through  the 
night  of  tlic  patrol  within  the  American  line?,  and  by  the  camp-fires, 
which  had  been  replenished  before  the  march  commenced,  had  no 
intimation  of  the  slate  of  affairs  until  they  heard  the  sound  of  artil- 
lery in  their  rear.  Cornwallis  immediately  marched  for  Brunswick 
to  protect  his  military  stores  at  that  place,  and  "Washington,  still 
anxious  to  avoid  a  general  engagement,  moved  towards  Morristown, 
where  he  established  the  army  in  winter-quarters. 

Nearly  the  whole  of  New  Jersey  was  thus  recovered  from  the 
enemy,  and  detachments  were  quartered  at  diflerent  points  to  retain 
possession.  Through  the  remainder  of  the  winter  and  spring,  neither 
army  was  engaged  in  any  general  military  operation.  The  Briti3h 
army  was  stationed  at  Amboy  and  Brunswick,  sufiering  no  small 
inconvenience  from  failure  of  provisions.  Frightful  outrages  were 
committed  by  small  marauding  parties  of  soldiery.  The  IIessian.s, 
in  particular,  were  stigmatized  as  aionstcrs  of  cruelty.  A  bloody 
retaliation  was  not  slow  to  follow,  and  many  of  the  loyalists  of  New 
Jer.sey,  even  such  as  liad  held  aloof  from  all  share  in  political 
controversy,  and  could  be  accused  of  no  overt  act  of  opposition  to 
the  jiatriots,  too  often  were  compelled  to  suffer  for  wrongs  in  which 
they  had  no  share. 

AVhilc  the  national  forces  were  thus  in  comparative  repose,  the 
calamities  of  a  sUxtc  of  war  were  still  widely  felt.  Privateers 
scoured  the  sea,  and  their  crews  and  conmianders,  growing  bolder 
by  experience,  pushed  their  adventures  in  waters  where,  at  first, 
it  was  deemed  rashness  to  intrude.  Prizes  taken  by  .Vmcrican 
vessels  were  dispo.sed  of  without  trouble  in  France.  Old  national 
feelings  of  jealousy  and  antipathy  caused  the  government  of  that 


THE   AMERICAN    BEVOLUTION. 


277 


country  to  wink  at  irregularities  which  operated  only  to  the  injury 
of  her  rival. 

Congress  had  not  fliiled,  ere  this,  to  commission  ambassadors  to 
various  European  courts,  to  solicit  political  aid  and  acknowledgment 
of  the  independence  of  the  states.  Those  who  filled  this  important 
office  at  the  court  of  France,  were  Benjamin  Franklin,  Silas  Deane, 
and  Arthur  Lee.  The  favour  with  which  the  Americar^  Jaims  were 
regarded  in  that  quarter  was  manifest,  and  had  been  substantially 
shown,  even  before  the  declaration  of  indeijendence,  by  an  ingenious 
and  secret  operation  for  furnishing  military  supplies  to  the  colonics. 
These  had  been  forwarded  to  islands  in  the  West  Indies,  as  by 
private  adventure,  thence  to  be  dispatched  for  the  use  of  the  colonies. 
France,  however,  was  not  as  yet  prepared  to  enter  into  open  contro- 
versy with  England,  by  an  acknowledgment  of  the  independent 
existence  of  the  American  republic. 

^fany  military  officers,  from  France  and  other  European  nations, 
were  anxious  to  procure  commissions  in  the  American  service. 
Many  were  sent  over  through  the  agency  of  Mr.  Deane,  in  the  ex- 
pectation of  receiving  high  commissions.  Some  of  these  proved 
worthy  of  the  confidence  placed  in  them,  particularly  those  em- 
ployed in  the  engineer  department ;  others,  although  doubtless  iiien 
of  capacity  and  competent  military  education,  were  entirely  unfitted 
to  deal  with  a  soldiery  of  the  character  of  the  continental  army. 
Among  those  whose  services  were  accepted,  the  most  celebrated,  were 
the  German  Baron  de  Kalb,  the  Polish  officers  Kosciusko  and 
Pulaski,  and  the  young  ilarquis  de  la  Fayette.  The  latter  came 
over  from  France  at  his  own  expense,  and  volunteered  to  serve 
without  pay.  lie  was  made  mojor-general,  and  became  the  intimate 
friend  aiid  companion  of  the  coraraander-m-chie£ 

Gov.  Tnrrmrix. — Prc-cminrnt  in  tho  roll  of  onr  pf  triots  and  statesmen  stands  tlio  iifiino 
of  JiinoQian  Trumhull.  Tlis  position  as  governor  of  iho  rtato  durinjr  tlio  w;ir,  nnitfil  w  iih 
tli.it  ran-  ronilMiialinn  of  jHiwcrs  \vliii,'!i  nuulo  him  s«.<r>mlonIr  to  Wusliiiitrtcii  iu  ixcciuiv.' 
ii'iililii'S,  not  si'coiiil  I'Vi'ii  to  iiim  in  tho  maturity  of  lii»  wiMloia  iind  l!i(>  (l.'jitli  iT  liis 
iimi-Ml  iiatnro,  mid  RroMtly  liis  wiporior  in  intellpctual  culture,  ccnstitiitid  him  the  jiiliuiial 
eliarartiT  in  our  I'njdiiy  iiml  statr  durin,!.'  f!i»  ii«ri'"l  f«fU]'i'-d  1y  h'*  adiiiiiii-tratioii.  It  is 
tnu>  of  Tniiiiliiill.  MX  ol  AVasIiiiifrton,  that  ilio  pt-rfit-t  i«\niiiiictry  id'  hin  ciiaracti'r  has 
indiicfd  many  to  lose  siglit  of  tlu'  vast  oeiilo  on  wliich  it  was  c«'ii.'tr"i't«'(l,  anit  the  eh  Na- 
tion with  wiiich  it  towers  ahuvc  the  level  of  other  |>'!''li<-  lii<  li  of  liiat  day.  'J'iiv  I'l'm 
"Unither  .Tenallian"  wa,«  frefpiently  applied  l>y  Wasliin^'ton  to  Governor  Tninilinll. 
When  lie  wanted  honest  ennnsol  and  wise,  he  would  mv.  "Let  us  ermsnit  lirolher  .Imia- 
tlian."  Such  was  tiie  orijrin  of  the  name  m  applied  to  ihv  nation. — ll'illl>t'  r'.t  Illt-hmj  tij 
Cuitncclicut, 


278 


AMERICA  ILLUSIKATED. 


U   *Lijj   tZoi   JT     iL    Jj   (Lti      u^     V  • 


•JXPEDITIOXS  AGAINST  PEEKSKILL  AND  DAXBURT.  —  BRITISH 
PLAN    OF   CAMPAIGN. — HOWE'S  DEPARTURE  PROM  NEW  YORK. 

—  llL'RUOYNE'S   ARMY;     HIS    PROCLAMATION. SIEGE     OP 

TICONDEROGA.  —  RETREAT   OP   ST.    CLAIR.  —  BURGOYNE. 

ON    THE    HUDSON. — SIEGE    OF    FORT    SCHUYLER. 

BATTLE    OF    BENNINGTON.  —  INDIAN     WARFARE. 


The  spring  of  1777  passed  by  without  any  important  operation 
on  the  part  of  either  of  the  main  contending  armies.  The  English 
succeeded  in  destroying  hirge  quantities  of  American  stores  at  Peeks- 
Kill,  or  the  Uudson,  and  at  Danburj-,  in  the  western  part  of  Con- 
necticut. The  latter  expedition  was  intrusted  to  governor,  then 
General  Trvon,  v.'ith  a  detachment  of  no  less  than  two  thousana 
men.  Ilis  retreat  was  not  accomplished  without  loss,  the  militia  of 
the  vicinity,  under  Arnold  and  Wooster,  harassing  him  by  repeated 
attacks.  Wooster  received  a  fatal  wound  in  one  of  these  encounters. 
The  bravery  of  Arnold,  on  this  occasion,  was  highly  commended, 
and  rewarded  by  promotion. 

On  the  other  hand,  a  small  force  from  Connecticut,  crossing  over 
to  Long  Island,  proceeded  to  Sag-harbour,  destroyed  British  stores 
and  vessels,  and  took  nearly  a  hundred  prisoners. 

The  important  events  of  the  summer  and  autumn,  transpiring  in 
different  portions  of. the  country,  and  connected  with  distinct  niili 
tary  operations,  must  be  examined  without  reference  to  the  late  of 
their  occurrence.  •The  British  plan  of  campaign  was,  that  Howe's 
army  should  engage  the  attention  of  the  main  body  of  the  continent- 
als, threatening  Philadelphia  and  other  important  towns  in  the 
middle  states,  while  a  powerful  force,  under  Burgoyne,  was  to  invade 
New  England,  seizing  and  occupying  the  military  posts  on  Cham- 
plain  and  the  Hudson,  cllecting  a  junction  with  the  forces  at  New 
York,  and  cutting  off  conmiunication  between  the  north  and  south. 

Ilowe,  after  various  manoeuvres,  intended  to  bring  about  a  gen- 
eral engagement — the  result  of  v/hich  could  hardly  bo  doubtful, 
considering  the  difference  in  numbers  and  equipments  between  the 
opposing  forces — crossed  over  to  Staten  Island,  embarked  with  six- 


THE  AMEKICAN    KEVOLUTION. 


279 


teen  thousand  men,  and  made  sa'l,  in  the  month  of  July,  without 
any  intimation  of  his  destination  having  transpired. 

In  Canada,  Burgoyne,  who  had  received  the  chief  command  >f 
the  army  of  the  north,  commenced  preparations  in  May.  lie  wai? 
enabled  to  marshal  a  fine  army  of  seven  thousand  regulars,  British 
and  Germans,  an  artillery  corps  of  five  hundred,  and  seven  hundred 
Canadians,  destined  for  the  various  duties  of  rangers,  woodmen,  &o 
In  addition  to  this,  a  grand  meeting  of  the  Iroquois  Indians  was 
called,  and  their  services  were  secured  by  additional  promises  of 
reward  and  protection.  A  flaming  proclamation  was  next  issued, 
for  the  encouragement  of  the  New  England  loyalists,  and  the  intim- 
idation of  the  rebels.  lie  promised  protection  to  those  who  should 
"quietly  pursue  their  occupations,"  and  full  pay  for  all  that  should 
be  furnished  for  the  army;  the  contumacious  were  threatened  with 
the  ''thousands  of  Indians  that  were  under  his  direction,"  and  whose 
fury  was  to  be  let  loose  upon  those  who  should  take  part  against 
the  king. 

Passing  the  lake,  Burgoyne  laid  siege  to  Ticonderoga,  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  month  of  July.  The  garrison,  under  St.  Clair, 
was  entirely  insufficient  for  the  protection  of  the  fort.  It  numbered, 
including  militia,  about  three  thousand  men,  but  the  works  were 
very  extensive,  and  the  troops  were  ill  provided  with  arms.  A 
retreat  was  efiectcd  on  the  night  of  the  5th,  but  the  Americans  were 
unable  to  gain  sufllcicnt  time  upon  the  enemy.  1'lie  baggage  and 
stores  were  dispatched  up  AVood  Creek,  towards  Skecnesborough, 
now  Whitehall,  which  place  was  appointed  for  general  rendezvous. 
A  bridge  and  other  obstructions  were  soon  removed  by  the  British, 
and  free  passage  was  opened  to  the  creek.  The  boats  containing 
the  stores  were  pursued  and  captured. 

The  army,  retreating  in  the  same  direction  by  land,  was  hotly 
pursued  by  a  detachment  of  the  enemy,  under  General  Frat^er.  The 
roar  division  was  overtaken,  on  the  7th  of  July,  and  completely 
routed.  The  main  body,  led  by  St.  Clair,  reached  General  Schuy- 
ler's head-quarters,  at  Fort  Edward,  on  the  Hudson  river,  after  a 
toilscme  march  over  rough  roads  throuiih  the  wilderncs;^. 

Notwithstanding  every  cflbrt  nuule  to  delay  and  obstruct  the 
advance  of  the  enemy,  by  blocking  u[i  the  forest-roads,  and  choking 
the  channel  of  the  narrow  creek  which  connects  with  the  southern 
extremity  of  Lake  Cliamplain,  Burgoyne  penetrated  to  the  Hudson, 
before  the  close  of  the  month.     Kvacuatin;';  l-'oit  Edward,  on  the 


280 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


approach  of  the  British,  General  Schuyler  retreated  to  Saratoga, 
thence  to  Stillwater,  and,  the  enemy  continuing  to  press  onward,  he 
finally  encamped  near  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk. 

These  disasters,  at  the  north,  were  popularly  attributed  to  incompe- 
tency on  the  part  of  the  commanding  officers,  who  were  accordingly 
superseded  by  Generals  Gates,  Arnold,  and  Lincoln.  Eeinforcements, 
incbiding  the  body  of  riflemen,  under  the  redoubted  Morgan,  were 
also  ordered,  in  all  haste,  to  the  seat  of  war  at  the  north. 

Before  proceeding  down  the  river,  Burgoyne  was  desirous  of  col- 
lecting stores  and  provisions  at  his  camp  on  the  Hudson,  by  the 
route  laid  open  from  tne  head  of  Lake  Champlain.  Meanwhile,  two 
excursions  were  planned  and  attempted  at  the  west  and  east.  Gen- 
eral Barry  St.  Leger,  with  several  companies  of  regulars,  and  a  large 
body  of  Indians,  under  command  of  Joseph  Brant,  early  in  August, 
besieged  Fort  Schuyler,  an  important  military  post,  situated  near  the 
head-waters  of  the  Mohawk.  General  Herkimer,  with  nearly  a 
thousand  of  the  provincial  militia,  endeavoured  to  relieve  the  fort, 
but  fell  into  an  ambuscade  prepared  by  Brant  Avith  his  followers 
and  an  English  detachment,  A  bloody  but  indecisive  engagement 
ensued,  known  as  the  "battle  of  Oriskany."  Herkimer  was  killed, 
together  with  several  hundred  of  his  followers.  The  enemy's  loss 
was  probably  about  the  same;  and,  although  no  communication  was 
opened  with  the  fort,  the  commandant,  Willett,  was  enabled  to 
make  a  sally,  and  to  plunder  the  British  encampment  of  stores  and 
provisions. 

A  detachment,  principally  Hessians,  under  Colonel  Baum,  was  also 
dispatched  by  Burgoyne,  to  procure  cattle  and  other  plunder  in  the 
eastern  settlements.  The  seizure  of  stores  accumulated  at  Beniiiniir- 
ton,  was  the  special  object  of  the  expedition.  Colonel  Stark,  having 
command  of  the  militia  in  that  quarter,  learning  the  approach  of  the 
enemy,  made  every  effort  to  prepare  for  resistance. 

Baum,  finding  himself  opposed  by  a  superior  force,  halted  near 
the  town,  and  commenced  throwing  up  intrenchments.  On  the 
IGth  of  August,  he  was  attacked,  and  utterly  defeated  by  the  pro- 
vincials. Reinforcements  arrived  simultaneously  on  either  i-ide — 
Colonel  Warner  making  his  appearance  with  a  regiment  of  conti- 
nental troops,  from  Manchester,  at  the  same  time  that  a  strong  force, 
under  Colonel  Breyman,  sent  to  support  Baum's  division,  was  en- 
gaged with  the  American  militia.  The  Americans  maintained  thci: 
advantage;  the  British  efiectcd  a  retreat  at  nightfall,  having  sustained 


THE   AMEKICAiJ    KEVOLUTION. 


281 


a  loss  of  about  ciglit  hundred  in  killed  and  prisoners.  A  most  sea- 
Bonable  supply  of  arms  and  artillery  fell  into  tlie  hands  of  the  pro- 
•^incials.     Of  the  lattei,  only  about  sixty  were  killed  or  wounded. 

A  few  days  later,  Arnold  relieved  Fort  Schuyler,  and  seized  upon 
the  tents  iind  stores  of  th*^  besieging  army,  abandoned  in  hasty 
retreat.  Many  of  the  I'lt^quois  allies  of  the  English  became  dis- 
heartened at  these  reverses,  and  drew  off.  Generally,  however,  they 
were  proof  against  the  efforts  of  agents  in  behalf  of  the  Americans 
to  secure  their  services,  or  promises  of  neutrality.  Outrages  com- 
mitted by  the  savages  on  the  march,  their  cruelty  to  prisoners,  and 
their  ferocious  manner  of  warfare,  excited  universal  indignation 
against  Burgoyne,  who  was  considered  responsible  for  all  the  enor- 
mities committed.  We  are  informed  that  he  used  what  influence 
he  possessed  over  the  chiefs,  to  induce  conformity  with  the  rules  of 
civilized  warfare;  but  what  would  previous  exhortation  or  thicats 
avail,  in  the  midst  of  the  dangers  and  excitement  of  actual  conflict? 
The  check  given  to  the  British  at  Bennington  and  Fort  Schuyler, 
gave  great  encouragement  to  the  Americans;  and  it  was  now  seen 
that  the  provincial  militia,  under  brave  and  energetic  commanders, 
was  a  more  effective  force  than  it  had  generally  been  considered. 


uiiAirxJiii    AVi, 


BATTLES    AT    BEIIMUS'    HEIGHTS.  —  BIIIIQOTNE'S   RETREAT   TO 
SARATOGA:    HIS   SURRENDER.  —  DETENTION   OF   PRISONERS. 

EXPEDITION    PROII    NEW    YORK     UP     THE     HUDSON. 

HOWE'S    MARCH    UPON     PHILADELPHIA.  —  BATTLE    AT 
BRANDYWINE     CREEK.  —  BRITISH     OCCUPATION     OP 

PHILADELPHIA. BATTLE     OF     GERMANTOWN. 

REDUCTION    OF   FORTS   MIFFLIN   AND    MERCER. — 
WINTER-QUARTERa_  AT    VALLEY    FORGE 


% 


Burgoyne,  having  procured  provisions  for  a  month's  campaign, 
crossed  the  Hudson,  and  continued  his  progress  southward.  The 
American  army,  numbering  about  six  thousand  men,  and  com- 
manded by  General  Gates,  lay  encamped  upon  Bchmus'  heights,  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  river.     The  place  presented  natural  fucilitiea 


t 

j 


M 


282 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED, 


for  defence,  of  whicli  due  advantage  had  been  taken  in  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  camp,  and  the  formation  of  batteries  and  intrenehmcnts. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  an  indecisive  battle  was  fought,  iu 
which,  although  the  British  remained  masters  of  the  field,  at  niglit- 
tall,  they  sustained  much  the  lieaviest  loss,  the  number  of  killed 
and  wounded  on  either  side  being,  respectively,  less  than  three 
hundred  and  over  five  hundred.  Two  days  previous  to  this  event^ 
communication  with  Canada  had  been  cut  off,  by  the  surprise  and 
capture  of  the  British  forts  on  Lake  George,  so  that  nothing  but 
brilliant  success  could  now  enable  Burgoyne  to  maintain  himself  iu 
the  enemy's  country.  lie  anxiously  awaited  promised  reinforce- 
ments from  New  York. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  the  British  troops  again  ofifered  battle,. 
The  American  forces  had  been  increased  by  new  recruits,  and,  exhil- 
erated  by  the  remembrance  of  recent  successes,  and  the  reputed 
destitution  of  the  enemy,  they  fought  with  courage  and  impetuosit}'. 
Arnold  exhibited  his  usual  energy  and  bravery.  The  enemy  were 
driven  back  to  their  camp,  and  a  portion  of  their  intrenchments  was 
forced  and  held  by  a  Massachusetts  regiment,  under  Colonel  Brooks, 

Burgoyne  drew  off  his  forces  during  the  night,  and  took  up  a 
new  position,  which  he  held  during  the  day  ensuing.  On  the  *Jth 
he  retrtated  to  Saratoga.  He  was  here,  in  a  manner,  surrounded 
by  the  Americans,  who  had  occupied  the  only  passes  by  which  a 
retreat  northward  could  be  effected,  and  who  pressed  ujjon  him  in 
his  position,  the  British  camp  being  within  reach  of  their  artillery. 
Provisions  could  no  longer  be  procured,  and  the  supply  on  hand  was 
nearly  expended.  Communications  were  therefore  opened,  and  a 
capitulation  was  agreed  upon,  by  the  terms  of  which  the  whole 
British  arm}',  to  the  number  of  more  than  five  thousand  men  be- 
came prisoners-of-war. 

It  was  agreed  that  they  should  be  allowed  to  leave  the  countrv 
but  that  none  of  them  should  serve  further  in  the  war,  uidess  made 
subjects  of  exchange  for  American  prisoners.  All  their  artillery, 
arms,  and  munitions  of  war,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans. 
Upon  various  pretexts,  a  compliance  with  the  agreement  for  the 
embarkation  of  these  prisoners,  was  delayed  and  evaded  by  congress. 
Burgoyne  was  permitted  to  sail  for  England,  but  his  army  was 
detained,  a  resolution  being  passed  that  no  further  action  should  l:>e 
taken  upon  the  premises,  until  the  Saratoga  convention  should  be 
expressly  ratified  by  the  British  government,  and  a  notification  to 


I 

4 


:r=r-) 


THE   AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


283 


that  effect  be  forwarded  to  the  American  congress.  The  result  was, 
that  none  of  these  prisoners  obtained  their  liberty  except  by  regular 
exchange. 

The  forces  dispatched  by  Clinton,  from  New  York,  to  force  a 
passage  up  the  Hudson,  and  cooperate  with  Burgoyne,  although 
unable  to  effect  the  main  purpose  of  the  expedition,  did  much  mis- 
chief to  the  Americans.  Obstacles  to  navigation,  in  the  shape  of 
huge  chains,  sunken  impediments,  &c.,  were  successfully  overcome, 
and  the  forts  on  the  Highlands  were  stormed  or  abandoned.  All 
the  artillery  at  these  important  strongholds  became  prize  to  the 
enemy.  A  great  amount  of  damage  was  wantonly  inflicted  upon 
the  settlements  near  the  river.  Not  content  with  plunder,  the  in- 
vaders burned  and  destroyed  every  thing  within  cheir  reach. 

We  will  now  revert  to  the  operations  of  the  main  continental 
army,  guided  by  Washington  in  person.  Towards  the  close  of 
August  (1777),  Admiral  Howe  entered  rtie  Chesapeake,  and  disem- 
barked the  entire  force  on  board  his  fleet  at  Elk  Ferry,  the  nearest 
available  landing  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  which  was  now  obvi- 
ously the  object  of  attack.  Upon  the  first  intimation  of  the  enemy's 
approach,  Washington  had  inarched  to  intercept  his  advance,  and 
had  taken  up  his  quarters  at  Wilmington,  on  Brandj'wine  creek,  in 
t^.3  direct  route  from  Elk  Ferry  to  Philadelphia.  He  had  collected 
a  tbrce  of  fifteen  thousand  men ;  that  of  the  British  was  superior  in 
numbers,  and  in  far  better  condition  for  service. 

On  the  11th  of  September,  the  American  army,  having  taken  a 
new  position  on  the  left  bank  of  the  creek,  was  attacked  by  the 
enemy.  Cornwallis,  by  a  circuit,  and  by  passage  of  the  creek  a  con- 
siderable distance  up  the  stream,  succeeded  in  turning  the  American 
flank.  Sullivan's  division,  in  that  quarter,  was  driven  in,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  a  division,  under  Kniphausen,  crossed  the  shallow 
river,  and  fell  upon  the  central  division  of  Washington's  army.  The 
latter  was  defeated,  with  a  loss  of  not  far  from  twelve  hundred  men. 
That  of  the  enemy  was  reported  to  be  six  hundred.  A  retreat  was 
efteoted  to  Chester,  and  thence,  passing  through  Philadelphia,  the 
army  marched  to  Germantown,  where  an  encampment  was  formed. 
In  the  actioE^  on  the  Brandywine,  several  foreign  ofiicers  distin- 
guished themselves.  La  Fayette  was  wounded  in  the  engage 
ment.  The  services  of  Count  Pulaski  were  rewarded  by  immediate 
promotion. 

On  the  16th,  Washington  crossed  the  Schuylkill,  and  endeavoured 


! 

i 


I 


I 


284 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


to  check  the  advance  of  the  enemy.  A  violent  rain  storm  came  on 
just  as  ti:e  armies  were  engaging,  by  which  the  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion of  the  Americans  were  rendered  unserviceable:  they,  therefore, 
retreated,  and  encamped  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  some  distance 
above  Philadelphia.  A  portion  of  the  army,  under  AVayne,  endeav- 
oured to  gain  the  enemy's  rear;  but,  on  the  night  of  the  20th,  the 
position  of  its  encampment  became  known  to  the  British  commander, 
and  it  was  attacked  and  driven  off  with  heavy  loss. 

A  few  da3-s  later,  Ilowe  crossed  the  Schuylkill  farther  down,  and 
entered  Philadelphia  without  opposition.  Congress,  having  extended 
and  enlarged  the  dictatorial  powers  confided  to  the  commander-in- 
chief,  and,  having  passed  laws  rendering  it  a  capital  offence  for  resi- 
dents in  the  vicinity  of  towns  occupied  by  the  enemy  to  furnish 
tliem  with  provisions,  &c.,  had  adjourned  to  Lancaster.  The  princi- 
pal British  camp  was  formed  at  Germantown. 

Communication  was  not'yet  opened  between  the  city  and  the  tide- 
waters -'the  bay,  strong  fortifications  and  obstructions  having  been 
planted  by  the  Americans  at  the  entrance  of  the  Schuylkill  from 
the  Delaware.  While  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  force  was  detached 
to  make  an  attempt  upon  these  works,  and  to  protect  the  transport- 
ation of  stores,  by  land,  from  Chester,  Washington  undertook  to 
surprise  the  main  body  at  Germantown.  The  very  circumstances 
that  enabled  him  to  come  upon  the  enemy  unpcrceived,  proved  dis- 
astrous for  the  success  of  the  enterprise.  The  morning  of  the  -ith 
of  October,  when  the  attack  was  mode,  was  unusually  dark  and 
fogg}'.  The  American  troops,  after  a  long  and  toilsome  marcli,  fell 
upon  the  British  camp  about  sunrise.  All,  for  a  time,  was  confu- 
sion, in  which  the  assailants  gained  a  temporary  advantage.  The 
British  soon  rallied,  and  availed  themselves  of  the  protection  afforded 
by  the  buildings  to  form,  and  to  pour  a  heavy  lire  upon  their  oppo- 
nents. The  Americans  were  driven  off,  with  a  loss  of  more  than  a 
thousand  men ;  that  of  the  British  was  less  than  two-thirds  of  that 
number. 

It  now  became  all  important  for  the  army  of  occupation  at  Phila- 
delphia, to  reduce  the  forts  by  which  it  was  cut  off  from  the  fleet  in 
the  Delaware.  The  first  attempt  was  made  upon  Fprt  Mercer,  on 
Ked  bank,  which  was  defended  by  troops  from  Rhode  Island,  under 
Greene.  The  storming  party  consisted  of  twelve  hundred  Hessians, 
led  by  Count  Donop.  A  complete  repulse,  with  the  loss  of  four 
hundred  of  the  assailants,  including  the  commanding  officer,  demon- 


TUE   AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


285 


stnited  the  necessity  for  more  deliberate  and  systematic  approaches. 
IJatteries  were  erected  to  play  upon  Fort  Mifllin,  situated  upon  a 
low  mud- flat,  which  was  reduced,  after  a  brave  defence  of  several 
days.  The  ships-of-war  were  now  enabled  to  bring  their  guns  to 
bear  with  effect  upon  Fort  Mercer,  and  its  evacuation  soon  followed. 
Thus,  on  the  16th  of  November,  the  British  secured  complete  com- 
mand of  the  approaches  to  Philadelphia  by  water. 

Washington  soon  after  retired  with  his  army  to  a  strong  position 
at  Valley  Forge,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Schuylkill,  twenty  miles 
above  Philadelphia.  Here  he  established  winter-quarters  for  the 
troops,  consisting  of  regularly  arranged  rows  of  cabins.  The  greatest 
destitution  and  misery  existed  in  the  arm}',  most  of  the  men  being 
ill  supplied  with  clothing — especially  shoes — and  provisions  were 
often  to  be  procured  only  by  forcible  seizure.  The  supply  was  very 
ircegular,  and,  at  times,  the  condition  of  the  camp  fell  little  short 
of  actual  famine. 


uJLiitlirxJilit    1A.VXX, 


nder 


lon- 


DIFFICULTIES  OF  CONGRESS. ARTICLES  OF  CONFEDERATION. 

—  RECOMIIENDATIONS  TO  THE  STATES. INTRIGUES    AGAINST 

WASHINGTON.  —  TREATIES  WITH  FRANCE. BRITISH  COM- 
MISSIONERS   IN    AMERICA. EVACUATION    OF    FHILA- 

DELPHIA. BATTLE    OF    MONMOUTH.  —  ARRIVAL   OF 

A    FRENCH    FLEET. — ATTEMPT    ON     NEWPORT. -- 
WINTER-QUARTERS. MARAUDING     EXPEDI- 
TIONS.— DESTRUCTION    OF    WYOMING. 

It  were  difficult  to  conceive  a  more  embarrassing  position  than 
that  of  the  continental  congress  at  this  juncture.  Tlie  army  was 
reduced  in  numbers,  dispirited,  discouraged,  and  in  a  condition  of 
physical  want  and  sufl'ering.  The  immense  issue  of  paper  money, 
amounting  already  to  thirty  or  forty  millions,  had  necessarily  induced 
so  rapid  a  depreciation  in  its  value,  that  it  was  not  available  for 
purchases,  at  a  higher  rate  than  twenty-five  per  cent,  upon  ita 
nominal  value ;  and  yet  there  appeared  no  resource  for  government, 
other  than  continued  issues.    Loans  could  be  effected  but  slowly, 


286 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


and  to  amounts  miserably  insufficient  for  the  exigencies  of  the  occa 
sion.  The  numerous  laws  and  regulations  for  fixing  and  establishing 
the  prices  of  goods,  for  rendering  distinction  between  gold  and  con- 
tinental bills  a  penal  offence,  and  for  the  preventing  of  "forestalling 
and  engrossing,"  (viz:  the  buying  up  and  retention  of  necessaries 
on  speculation,)  were  exceedingly  difficult  to  enforce,  and  were 
generally  evaded,  or  made  a  handle  for  the  gratification  of  private 
enmity.  * 

Congress  had  already  submitted  a  series  of  "Articles  of  Confeder- 
ation" to  the  separate  states,  which  were  subjects  of  long  and  vex- 
atious dispute;  a  great  hesitation  being  felt  at  the  relinquishment 
of  individual  sovereignty,  in  exchange  for  the  benefits  and  perma- 
nenc}'  of  a  centralized  government.  It  was  now  earnestly  recom- 
mended that  available  funds  should  be  raised  by  the  states,  resort 
being  had  for  this  purpose  to  direct  taxation,  to  meet  tlie  expenses 
of  the  coming  year ;  that  stringent  provisions — the  arbitrary  nature  of 
wliich  was  acknowledcred  and  lamented — should  be  enforced  aj^ainst 
forostallers  and  engrossers,  by  seizure  of  the  accumulated  property; 
to  be  paid  for  at  specified  rates  in  continental  money,  and  for  general 
regulation  of  trade;  and  that  the  property  of  absent  loyalists  be 
confiscated  for  public  purposes. 

The  series  of  disasters  which  had  befiallcn  the  main  army,  had 
given  rise  to  doubts  in  the  minds  of  many,  as  to  the  vigour  and 
capacity  of  the  commander-in-chief.  Occasion  was  taken  by  those 
among  the  officers  of  the  army  and  leading  politicians,  who  were 
jealous  of  his  ascendancy,  to  conspire  for  effecting  liis  removal 
from  office.  This  movement  failed  to  affect  the  general  popularity 
of  AVa.shington,  or  to  shake  the  confidence  of  congress  in  his  abilities 
or  ]iatriotism. 

The  close  of  January,  1778,  was  marked  by  the  conclusion  of  two 
separate  treaties  with  France.  No  event  since  the  commencenii'nt 
of  the  war  had  given  such  strength  to  the  patriotic  cause  as  this. 
Tlic  independence  of  the  states  was  acknowledged,  and  a  treaty  for 
trade  and  commerce  negotiated.  Still  more  important  were  the 
provisions  of  the  second  treaty,  which  contained  stipulations  for 
mutual  defence,  in  anticipation  of  the  course  wliich  England,  if  con- 
sistont  in  her  plans,  must  necessarily  ado|)t. 

News  of  the  negotiation  of  these  trcatie-««,  was  brought  over  to 
America  in  the  spring,  about  the  same  time  that  intelligence  wjia 
transmitted  of  a  willingness  on  tlic  ]»art  of  the  British  government 


THE   AMERICAN    REVOLUTION, 


287 


to  effect  a  reconciliation  with  the  colonies,  by  the  renunciation  of 
all  claims  to  impose  taxes,  &c.  The  three  commissioners,  deputed 
to  conduct  negotiations  for  this  purpose,  after  a  vain  address  to 
congress,  in  which  the  most  liberal  offers  were  made  in  behalf  of 
the  crown,  resorted  to  every  species  of  intrigue  to  bring  about  their 
ends.  Manifestoes,  calculated  to  excite  prejudice  against  the  French, 
appeals  to  the  separate  states,  slurs  upon  the  motives  and  principles 
of  the  leading  patriots,  and  even  the  more  reprehensible  course  of 
attempting  the  integrity  of  individuals  by  the  offer  of  bribes;  all 
resulted  in  signal  failure.  The  treaties  were  ratified  by  congress, 
and  no  proposal  for  any  thing  short  of  absolute  independence  was 
longer  entertained. 

In  parliament  it  was  now  openly  advocated  that  submission  to 
the  necessities  of  the  case,  by  an  acknowledgment  of  American  inde- 
pendence, would  only  be  a  timely  anticipation  of  an  inevitable  result. 
National  pride,  and  a  jealousy  of  French  interference  prevailed, 
however,  against  every  argument  founded  upon  policy  or  right: 
the  British  minister  was  recalled  from  Paris,  and  the  attention  of 
government  was  devoted  to  the  uctail  of  warlike  operations.  Sir 
William  Howe,  recalled  at  his  own  request,  was  superseded  in  the 
chief  command  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  Orders  were  given  f<)r  an 
abandonment  of  the  positions  at  and  near  Philadelphia,  and  ti  con- 
tccntration  of  forces  at  New  York. 

The  evacuation  of  Philadelphia  was  effected  on  the  18th  of  June, 
the  principal  stores  and  baggage  of  the  army  having  been  for- 
warded to  New  York  by  sea.  The  American  forces  were  immedi- 
ately put  in  motion,  to  harass  the  enemy  in  the  rear,  and  to  watch 
for  a  favourable  opportunity  for  a  general  engagement.  Such  an 
occasion  presented  itself,  in  the  estimation  of  Washington,  on  the 
28th,  the  enemy  being  encamped  near  Monmouth  court-house.  At 
the  council  in  which  an  attack  was  decided  uj)on.  General  IjCC,  then 
second  in  command,  had  opposed  the  plan,  lie  was  now  intrusted 
with  the  command  of  the  advance. 

Early  in  the  morning,  upon  the  first  movement  of  the  British, 
who  were  about  to  take  up  their  line  of  march  towanls  New  York, 
Lee  received  orders  from  his  superior  to  open  the  attack.  Coming 
up  with  the  main  army,  Washington  met  the  advance  in  full 
retreat,  and  pressed  upon  by  the  enemy.  In  the  heat  of  tlie  moment, 
he  addressed  Lee  with  terms  of  reproach,  which  rankled  in  the 
remembrance  of  that  proud  anil  eccentric  officer,  but  which  did  not 
Vol.  IV.— 47 


-CJ— 


I    w\m'*'*ww^m^i^9  vv.iw 


283 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


prevent  him  from  lending  his  utmost  exertions,  at  the  time,  in  car- 
rying out  the  orders  of  the  commander-in-chief. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  action,  which  lasted  until  nightfall, 
neither  party  obtained  any  decisive  advantage.  The  British  sus- 
tained the  heavier  loss,  their  killed  and  wounded  amounting  to 
about  three  hundred  men;  that  of  the  Americans,  probably,  fell 
short  of  two  hundred.  The  former  continued  their  retreat  during 
the  night,  and  pushed  on  unmolested  to  the  Navesink  highlands, 
where  they  occupied  an  unassailable  position.  It  docs  not  appear 
that  General  Lee  was  guilty  of  any  dereliction  from  duty  in  this 
engagement:  his  retreat,  at  the  commencement,  was  before  a  supe- 
rior force,  the  British  having  assumed  an  oftensive  attitude  with 
remarkable  promptitude  and  good  order,  and  his  own  position  being 
unfavourable  from  the  nature  of  the  ground.  In  consequence  of 
two  disrespectful  letters,  subsequently  written  to  Washington,  re- 
specting the  all'air,  as  well  as  for  alleged  disobedience  of  orders, 
and  an  unnecessary  retreat,  he  Avas  tried  by  a  court-martial,  and 
suspended  from  command  for  the  term  of  one  year,  lie  took  no 
further  part  in  the  war. 

Early  in  July,  a  powerful  French  fleet,  commanded  by  Count 
D'Estaing,  arrived  on  the  coast,  bringing  over  the  French  ambassa- 
dor, Gerard,  and  about  four  thousand  troops.  Washington's  army 
had,  by  this  time,  n^.oved  towards  the  Hudson,  and,  to  cooperate 
with  the  French  fleet  in  a  proposed  attack  upon  New  York,  now 
crossed  over  to  White  Plains.  The  British  forces  had  removed 
from  Navesink  to  the  city. 

The  larger  French  mcn-of  war,  from  their  great  draught  of  water, 
could  not  be  safely  taken  into  New  York  harbour,  and  it  was 
determined  to  commence  .operations  by  an  attempt  at  the  recovery 
of  Newport,  still  in  the  possession  of  the  British,  and  protected  by 
a  force  of  six  thousand  men.  A  violent  storm  disconcerted  the 
arrangemcnta  for  a  joint  attack  by  land  and  sea.  D'Estaing,  in 
endeavouring  to  engage  the  English  fleet,  suffered  so  much  injury 
in  his  shijipiiig,  that  he  was  comj)elIcd  to  .sail  for  Boston  to  repair 
danuiges.  The  American  forces,  under  Sullivan,  which  liad  landed 
on  liiiode  Island,  and  advanced  towards  Newport,  were  compelled 
to  abandon  the  attempt.  In  this  retreat,  they  were  pursued  and 
attacked  by  the  enemy,  whom  they  repulsed,  not  without  consider- 
able loss  on  both  side.s. 

The  remaining  events  of  the  year,  although  replete  with  local 


THE   AMERICAN    KEVOLUTION. 


289 


interest,  were  of  little  importance,  as  connected  with  the  result  of 
the  war.  The  French  fleet,  on  the  approach  of  winter,  sailed  for 
the  West  Indies,  and  the  main  continental  army  went  into  win- 
ter-quarters for  the  season,  in  New  Jersey  and  the  western  portion 
of  Connecticut,  their  line  extending  across  the  Iludson  at  West  Point. 
The  head-quarters  of  the  commander-in-chief  was  at  Middlebrook. 

At  no  period  of  the  war  were  evidences  given  of  more  bitter  and 
relentless  enmity  between  the  patriots  and  loyalists,  than  during  the 
summer  and  autumn  of  1778.  The  predatory  excursions  of  the 
British  troops  were  also  marked  by  unusual  ferocity  and  needless 
cruelty.  Not  content  with  plunder,  they  generally  glutted  their 
malice  by  wanton  destruction  of  all  that  they  were  unable  to  re- 
move. In  the  month  of  July,  a  party  of  about  three  hundred  tories 
and  regulars,  with  a  still  larger  number  of  Indians,  under  command 
of  Colonel  John  Butler,  marched  into  Pennsylvania  from  western 
New  York,  and  ravaged  the  beautiful  valley  of  Wyoming.  It  has 
been  usually  leported  that  Joseph  Brant  headed  the  Indians  in  this 
excursion.  This  seems  to  be  an  error:  it  is  true,  that  throughout 
no  small  portion  of  the  war,  he  and  his  warriors  were  a  terror  to  the 
•^orth-wcstcrn  frontier.  lie  was  faithful  to  the  last  to  the  cause 
^'    '  ',  he  had  espoused,  and  his  name  came  to  bo  coupled  with 

I  ale  of  Indian  violence  and  outrage.  From  all  that  we  can 
learn,  Brant  was  of  a  more  humane  disposition  than  many  of  his 
white  associates,  even  among  those  who  held  high  positions  in 
the  army. 

At  Wyoming,  although  the  destruction  of  the  settlement  was 
principally  effected  by  the  ferocious  and  uncontrollable  horde  of 
Indians,  the  most  revolting  instances  of  blood-thirsty  cruelty  occur- 
red in  combat  between  the  whites.  In  addition  to  the  party  strife 
between  whig  and  tory,  this  community  had  been  long  distracted 
by  bitter  enmity  between  two  distinct  classes  of  settlers,  hohling 
their  estates,  respectively,  under  the  conflicting  grants  of  Connecticut 
and  Pennsylvania.  Opportunity  was  taken  at  the  time  of  this  inva- 
sion for  the  revenge  of  old  family  and  clannish  quarrels. 

Upon  a  rCoccupition  of  Philadeli)hia,  the  severe  and  sanguinary 
enactments  against  those  who  should  assist  the  enemy,  were  enforced 
against  some  of  the  prominent  tories.  Two  Quakers,  convicted  of 
treason  under  the  laws  lately  enacted,  were  executed. 


Wi 


290 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


LilAr^xiiiiu    •Aiviix. 


INVASION    OF   GEORGIA. OCCrPATION   OF   SAVANNAH. BRITISH 

DIVISION    UNDER    FREVOST. LINCOLN   IN   COMilAND    AT   THE 

SOUTH.  —  DEFEAT   OF    ASHE   AT   BRIAR   CREEK. ATTACK 

ON    CHARLESTON. SULLIVAN'S   CAMPAIGN    AGAINST   THE 

IROQUOIS. NAVAL  OPERATIONS  OF  FftANCE  AND   ENG- 
LAND.  ATTEMPT   AT   A   RECOVERY   OF    SAVANNAH. 

FURTHER  NAVAL  PROCEEDINGS:    PAUL  JONES. 

—  CONDITION    OF    THE    AMERICAN    ARMY. 


Upon  the  departure  of  D'Estaing  for  the  "West  Indies,  the  Eng 
lish  fleet,  under  Admiral  Byron,  immediately  made  sail  in  pursuit 
It  was  resolved,  at  the  same  time,  to  open  a  winter  campaign  in  a 
new  quarter,  and  a  large  force  of  English  and  German  troops,  under 
command  of  Colonel  Campbell,  was  embarked  at  New  York  for  au 
expedition  against  Georgia. 

The  continental  forces  stationed  at  Savannah,  amounting  to  lesa 
than  a  thousand  men,  were  under  command  of  the  American  General 
Howe,  Upon  the  approach  of  Campbell,  who  arrived  on  the  coast 
at  the  close  of  December,  1778,  a  defensible  position  was  taken  for 
the  purpose  of  intercepting  his  advance.  The  British,  in  greatly 
superior  force,  were  successful  in  turning  the  American  flank.  A 
negro  piloted  one  detachment  through  a  swamp,  between  which  and 
the  river  the  continental  army  was  stationed.  In  an  engagement 
which  en.'iued,  the  Americans  were  completely  routed;  five  or  six 
hundred  wore  taken  prisoners  or  killed.  The  British  loss  was 
trifling,  and  their  success  was  rewarded  by  au  immediate  occupation 
of  Savannah. 

Campbell  was  soon  joined  by  General  Prevost,  who,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  plan  of  the  southern  campaign,  had  been  ordered  Up 
march  from  his  quarters  in  Florida,  to  assume  command  in  Georgia, 
and  coopcrat')  with  the  troops  from  New  V'ork.  Georgia  thus  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  British. 

At  this  period.  General  Lincoln,  by  whom  Ilowe  had  been  super* 
Bcded  in  command,  arrived  in  South  Carolina,  and  took  command 
of  the  continental  army  at  the  south.  The  regular  forces  under  his 
command,  together  with  militia  from  North  Carolina,  were  sufTicient 


THE   AMERICAN    BEVOLUTIOJJ. 


291 


to  hold  the  enemy  in  check,  and  prevent  a  passage  of  th.e  Savannah. 
There  existed,  however,  an  uninterrupted  comrnunieatioii  between 
the  British  head-quarters  and  the  interior,  where  a  strong  tory 
interest  predominated,  and  where  the  Indian  tribes  were  generally 
favourable  to  the  royal  cause. 

Lincoln  commenced  active  operations  by  detaching  fifteen  hun- 
dred men,  under  General  Ashe,  to  occup}'  an  intermediate  position, 
and  intercept  this  communication.  Ashe  crossed  the  river  near 
Augusta,  i'rom  which  the  British  retired  towards  the  capital,  and 
passing  down  the  ri^ht  bank,  posted  his  forces  on  Biiar  creek,  in 
the  present  county  of  Scriven. 

In  this  jiosition,  the  flank  of  the  American  army  was  again  suc- 
cessfully turned  by  the  enemy.  Prevost  made  a  distant,  b'lt  rapid 
circuit,  and  falling  upon  the  rear,  gained  a  complete  victory.  A 
great  number  of  the  Americans  were  killed  or  taken  prisoners,  and 
the  remainder  were  dispersed. 

Lincoln's  head-quarters  were  at  Purisburg,  about  fifteen  miles 
above  Savannah,  on  the  Carolina  side  of  the  river.  Li  the  month 
of  A{)ril,  1779,  leaving  a  portion  of  the  militia  at  this  post,  he 
marched  up  the  river,  with  the  intention  of  efifccting  a  passage,  and 
making  a  descent  on  the  British  encampments.  While  on  the  route, 
he  received  intelligence  that  Prevost  had  taken  the  op[)ortunity  to 
cross  the  river,  and  was  in  full  march  upon  Charleston.  Lincoln 
immediately  hurried  to  its  defence,  and  arrived  in  time  to  save  the 
city.  The  British  army  retreated,  carrying  away  a  large  amount 
of  plunder,  gathered  on  the  march,  and  taking  with  tlieni  an  im- 
mense number  of  slaves,  seized  upon  the  coast  plantations.  The 
concluding  events  of  the  campaign  took  place  in  the  month  of  June, 
by  which  time  the  season  was  unfit  fur  farther  military  operations. 

During  the  preceding  month  of  May,  the  coast  of  Virginia,  and 
all  districts  easily  accessible  by  the  larger  rivers,  were  ravaged  by 
a  detachment  of  between  two  and  throe  thousand  men,  .'icnt  out  by 
Clinton  from  New  York.  There  was  no  military  force  to  oj>poso 
these  marauders,  and,  with  scarce  a  sho*.v  of  resistance,  they  carried 
out  the  general  orders  io  burn  and  <!•  stro}*  tlie  jirojierty  of  the  rebel- 
lious colonists.  Not  ludy  ves.«els  Ix'Ionging  to  the  confeileracy,  but 
a  fleet  of  merchant  vessels  were  Imrncd  or  sunk  in  the  rivers  and 
bay.  A  great  amount  of  plunder  was  seized  and  carried  off,  but  ita 
value  bore  no  proportion  to  that  of  the  proi)crty  destroyed. 

The  mo.st  noticeable  military  operations  of  the  summer,  were  tho 


292 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


expedition  against  the  Iroquois,  and  the  contests  for  the  possession 
of  the  American  fortifications  at  Yerplank's  Point  and  Stony  Point, 
on  the  Hudson.  Much  damage  was  done  by  a  marauding  expedition 
down  Long  Island  Sound,  led  by  General  Tryon.  On  the  north- 
eastern coast,  the  Americans  also  met  with  heavy  loss  in  an  unsuc- 
cessful expedition  against  a  military  post  of  the  enemy  on  the 
Penobscot. 

The  Indian  campaign  of  the  season  was  conducted  by  General 
Sullivan.  With  a  force  of  five  thousand  men,  concentrated  at  Tioga, 
he  entered  the  territory  of  the  Six  Nations.  The  Indians,  under 
Biant,  assisted  by  a  body  of  tories,  commanded  by  the  Butlers  and 
by  Sir  John  and  Guy  Johnson,  made  a  strong  stand  at  Newtown, 
on  the  bank  of  the  Chemung  river,  but  their  position  was  not  tena- 
ble against  a  force  so  superior  as  that  now  brought  to  bear  upon 
them.  No  further  resistance  was  offered  to  the  advance  of  the  in- 
vaders, and  the  month  of  September  was  occupied  in  the  destruction 
of  Indian  villages  and  harvests. 

"These  Indian  tribes  had  made  no  little  advance  in  the  arts  of 
civilization.  The  Mohawks  had  mostly  fled  to  Canada  in  the  early 
times  of  the  revolution,  but  others  of  the  Iroquois,  particularly  the 
Cayugas  and  Senecas,  bad  continued  to  cultivate  their  fields  and 
maintain  possession  of  the  homes  of  their  forefathers.  Immense 
orchards  of  apple  and  other  fruit  trees  were  growing  luxuriantly 
around  the  habitations,  but  all  fell  beneath  the  axe  of  the  destroyers. 
The  movement  of  so  large  a  body  of  troops  was  necessarily  slow, 
and,  as  no  precautions  were  taken  to  conceal  their  operations,  the 
Indians  were  every  where  enabled  to  escape  to  the  woods.  It  must 
have  been  with  feelings  of  the  bitterest  rage  and  despair  that  they 
saw  the  labour  of  so  many  years  rendered  useless,  and  thought  of 
the  coming  winter,  which  must  overtake  them,  a  wandering  and 
destitute  people,  who  must  perish,  or  rely  for  aid  uj)on  their  Can- 
adian allies."* 

The  French  and  English  fleets,  under  D'l^staing  and  Byron,  were 
occupied  during  the  winter,  spring,  and  summer  of  this  year,  at  the 
AVest  In<lio^.  and  in  the  convoy  of  fleets  of  merchant  vessels,  bound 
homeward  from  the  islands  belonging  to  these  nations  respect- 
ively. Tlie  most  important  naval  engagement  of  this  period, 
was  ujion  the  occasion  of  the  capture  of  the  island  of  Grenada, 
by  D'Estaing,  in  the  month  of  July.     In  this  action,  the  British 

•  Tho  Iroquois.— "Indian  Races  of  America." 


THE   AMEKICAN    REVOLUTION. 


293 


Bustained  a  very  heavy  loss,  both  in  men  and  in  damage  done  to 
their  ships. 

D'Estaing  appeared  on  the  coast  of  Georgia  in  the  month  follow- 
ing, with  the  design  of  cooperating  with  the  continental  forces  in  an 
eftbrt  to  recover  the  territory  then  in  occupation  of  the  enemy. 
Siege  was  laid  to  Savannah  by  the  French  and  American  forces,  in 
September,  and  was  continued  until  October  9th,  when  an  attempt 
was  made  to  storm  the  British  outworks,  and  take  the  town  by 
assault.  A  most  gallant  defence  was  made,  and  the  assailants  were 
driven  off  with  the  loss  of  more  than  a  thousand  men.  This  disas- 
trous failure  is  attributed  to  the  impatience  and  impetuosity  of  the 
French  admit; '  a  "  lad  become  weary  of  '^'^  ru'otracted  operations 
of  a  regular  ...cge.  '^e  immediately  aftc  -ards  returned  to  the 
West  Indies. 

Notwithstanding  the  powerful  aid  already  furnished  by  France, 
and  the  expected  assistance  of  Spain — that  nation,  during  the  sum- 
mer, having  virtually  declared  war  against  England — the  afluirs  of  the 
United  States  were,  at  this  period,  far  from  prosperous.  The 
finances  of  the  confederacy  were  in  a  most  ruinous  condition;  con- 
tinental paper  money  was  nearly  worthless,  from  the  enormous  issue, 
already  amounting  to  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  millions, 
from  the  distant  period  when  payment  was  provided  for,  and 
from  the  great  uncertainty  of  any  future  redemption.  The  main 
army,  sulTering  from  insufiicient  and  irregular  suppUes,  and  unoccu- 
pied in  any  important  movement,  was  reduced  in  numbers,  and 
dispirited  by  a  scries  of  reverses,  Kecruits  weri^  obtained  with 
difficulty,  and,  to  maintain  a  respectable  force,  resort  was  necessa- 
rily had  to  a  draught  upon  the  militia.  Throughout  the  year, 
neither  "Wasliington  nor  the  British  commander-in-chief  considered 
it  advisable  to  measure  the  strength  of  tlieir  respective  forces  in  any 
general  engagement. 

At  sea,  operations  against  England  were  mostly  conducted  by  the 
fleets  of  France  and  S[)ain.  The  small  naval  force  of  the  states  had 
little  opportunity  for  any  effective  service.  Privateers  were  still  in 
a  measure  successful,  and  it  was  in  revenge  for  injuries  committed 
upon  British  commerce  by  this  class  of  vessels,  that  the  seaports  on 
Long  Island  Sound  were  plundered  and  burned,  as  before  men- 
tioned. The  daring  achievements  of  John  Paul  Jones,  a  Scotchman, 
holding  a  commission  from  congress  as  a  naval  commander,  were 
matters  of  wide  celebrity.     In  September,  1779,  being  in  command 


I 


294 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


of  a  French  and  American  squadron,  fitted  out  from  France,  he  fell 
in  with  a  British  fleet  of  merchant  vessels,  under  convoy  of  two 
vessels  of  war.  The  larger  of  these,  a  frigate  of  forty-four  guns, 
named  the  Scrapis,  engaged  the  Bonne  Homme  Richard,  com- 
manded by  Jones,  and  carrying  forty-two  guns. 

The  combat  was  conducted,  for  the  most  part,  while  the  ships 
were  lashed  together,  each  pouring  in  a  heavy  fire  and  making  des 
perate  attempts  to  carry  the  enemy  by  boarding.  Both  vessels 
reptaiedly  took  fire  during  the  engagement,  and,  when  the  Serapis 
finally  struck,  the  Bonne  llomme  liichard  was  in  a  sinking  condi- 
tion, and  was  presently  abandoned. 

The  American  army^ — quartered  for  the  winter  near  West  Point, 
on  the  Iludson,  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Morristown,  New 
Jersey — was  with  great  difficulty  furnished  with  provisions,  and  was 
poorly  prepared  to  encounter  the  inclemencies  of  the  season,  much 
less  to  operate  against  troops  superior  in  numbers  and  discipline, 
and  better  provided  with  needful  supplies  and  munitions  of  war. 


8IE0E    OF   CHARLESTON:    SURRENDER    OP    THE    CITY.  —  SOUTH 
CAROLINA    OCCUPIED    BY    THE   BRITISH. TARLETON'S   LE- 
GION:    HIS    VICTORY    AT    WAXHAWS.  —  CORNWALLIS    IN 
COUJIAND.  —  DEFEAT   OF   THE   AMERICANS   AT   CAMDEN. — 
GUERILLA  OPERATIONS  OF  SUMPTER  AND  MARION. — 
INVASION     OF     NORTH     CAROLINA.  —  FERGUSON'S 
DEFEAT    AT    KINO'S    MOUNTAIN. 

• 
The  year  1780  was,  almost   throughout,  a  season  of  distress, 

defeat  and   disaster,   for   the   continental   armies.      The   principal 

theatre  of  action  was  at  the  south.     In  the  month  of  Februarv, 

General  Clinton,  with  a  large  force  brouglit  from  New  York  in 

December,    sailed    from    Savannah,    upon    an    expedition    against 

Charleston.     Blockading  the  harbour  with  his  fleet,  he  landed  his 

troops  on  the  island  of  St.  John's,  and  prepared  to  lay  siege  to 

the  city. 

General  Lincoln,  in  concert  with  Governor  llutledge,  made  every 


THE  AMERICAN    KEVOLUTION, 


295 


exertion  to  increase  the  garrison,  and  to  erect  defensive  works. 
Eutledge.  in  pursuance  of  extensive  discretionary  powers  conferred 
upon  him  by  the  legislature,  compelled  the  service  of  a  grca:  nuni- 
her  of  negro  slaves  for  this  purpose.  The  forces  finally  concentrated 
at  Charleston  amounted  to  about  seven  thousand,  but  more  than 
half  of  these  were  inhabitants  of  the  city,  and  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  remainder  were  militia  from  North  Carolina. 

In  the  month  of  April,  Clinton's  fleet  passed  Fort  Moultrie,  on 
Sullivan's  island^  without  material  damage,  and  entered  the  har- 
bour. "Works  were  constructed  for  the  prosecution  of  the  siege  by 
regular  military  approaches;  communication  from  the  north  was  cut 
olY  by  a  detachment  of  British  troops;  Fort  Moultrie  was  taken  by 
the  enemy;  and  before  the  middle  of  May,  it  was  plain  that  the  city 
was  no  longer  tenable.  A  capitulation  was  proposed  and  accepted : 
the  militia  were  to  return  home  upon  parole;  the  regular  conti- 
nental soldiers  to  become  prisoners  of  war;  and  the  British  were 
to  have  possession  of  the  city,  the  public  stores,  &c. 

Clinton  did  not  fail  to  follow  up  his  advantage,  by  taking  secure 
positions  for  his  troo})S  at  the  more  important  posts  throughout  the 
state.  His  most  efficient  force  for  carrying  on  the  skirmishing  and 
irregular  warfare  which  attended  the  occupation  of  South  Carolina, 
was  a  legion  of  cavalry,  under  command  of  Colonel  Tarleton,  an 
officer  of  great  energy  and  ability. 

During  the  siege,  this  corps  defeated  two  regiments  of  the  Ameri- 
can forces,  at  Monk's  Corner,  thirty  miles  from  Charleston,  and, 
ab(.ut  the  close  of  the  month  following,  the  like  success  attended  an 
attack  upon  Buford's  regiment,  from  Virginia.  The  victory  was 
gained  at  "Waxhaws,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  whither 
Tarleton  had  hastened  by  a  forced  march.  The  Americans  were 
completely  routed,  and  a  bloody  massacre  ensued.  No  quarter  was 
given,  and  more  than  three  iiuiidred  were  killed  or  taken  prisoners, 
while  the  assailants  lost  but  eighteen  men. 

Clinton  resorted  to  violent  measures  for  the  maintenance  of  British 
rule  in  South  Carolina.  Administration  of  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
malcontents,  rendered  compulsory  by  .confiscations  and  other  pun- 
ishments, and  a  careful  organix-ation  of  the  torics,  gave  a  general 
aspect  of  quiet  submission  to  the  country.  Resistance  was  out  of 
the  question,  but  the  patriotic  portion  of  the  iuliabitants  looked 
.anxiously  for  promised  aid  from  the  north. 

Regiinents  from  Delaware  and  Maryland,  led  by  Baron  De  Kalb, 


296 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


were  on  march  for  the  scene  of  action,  but  their  progress  was  slow 
on  account  of  difficulty  in  procuring  provisions.  In  the  month  of 
Jul}',  they  were  reinforced  by  General  Gates,  to  whom  the  chief 
command  at  the  south  had  recently  been  intrusted.  A  Virginia 
regiment,  the  only  remaining  continental  force  in  that  quarter, 
effected  a  junction  with  the  army,  which  now  amounted  to  five  or 
six  thousand  men.  In  the  month  of  August,  a  most  unfortunate 
season  for  a  southern  campaign,  Gates  reached  Clermont,  near  Cam- 
den, S.  C,  where  he  encamped  on  the  14th. 

Comwallis  was,  at  this  period,  in  command  of  the  British  forces 
at  the  south,  Clintor  having  returned  to  New  York.  Such  troops 
as  he  could  raise  to  oppose  the  advance  of  Gates,  were  encamped 
at  Camden. 

A  simultaneous  attempt  at  a  surprise,  on  the  part  of  both  armies, 
led  to  an  unexpected  night  encounter.  After  some  unimportant 
skirmishing,  the  respective  leaders  occupied  themselves  in  prepara- 
tions for  a  decisive  battle.  The  fighting  recommenced  at  day-break: 
the  British,  although  outnumbered  in  the  ratio  of  about  two  to  one, 
were  completely  victorious.  The  American  militia  fled  at  the  first 
charge,  but  the  regular  forces,  under  De  Kalb,  fought  bravely,  until 
the  fall  of  their  leader.  Nearly  two  thousand  of  the  Americans  were 
killed  or  taken  prisoners,  during  the  engagement,  or  in  their  dis- 
astrous and  confused  retreat.  The  enemy  lost  but  a  little  over  three 
hundred  men. 

A  few  days  subsequent  to  this  battle,  a  body  of  patriots,  raised 
and  commanded  by  Colonel  Sumpter,  which  had  done  much  damage 
to  the  British  outposts,  by  an  irregular  warfare,  Avas  attacked  by 
Tarleton  and  his  legion,  some  distance  ftirther  up  tlie  Catawba. 
Sumpter's  forces  were  surprised  and  utterly  routed;  a  number  of 
British  prisoners  were  set  at  liberty,  and  four  or  five  hundred  of  the 
Americans  were  killed,  or  fell  into  the  «iiands  of  the  enemy. 

No  course  was  now  left  to  the  patriots  but  submission,  or  the  life 
of  outlaws.  A  number  of  prisoners,  convicted  of  treason  in  having 
borne  arms  against  the  king,  after  professing  allegiance,  or  accepting 
British  protection,  were  executed,  by  order  of  the  British  com- 
mander. Those  who,  not  being  implicated  in  the  open  hostilities, 
had  favoured  the  patriotic  cause,  \\erc  punished  by  seizure  of  their 
property  for  the  use  of  the  army.  The  few  who  still  maintained  a 
hostile  attitude,  were  obliged  to  resort,  for  safety,  to  forests  and 
marshes  inaccessible  to  any  but  those  familiar  with  the  country. 


THE   AMERICAN    KEVOLUTION. 


297 


Sumptcr,  notwithstanding  his  defeat,  had  again  collected  a  band  of 
followers^  and  established  hirciself  in  the  mountainous  inland  coun- 
try, whence  he  made  incursions  upon  the  enemy. 

General  Marion,  who  had  held  a  continental  commission,  as  colo- 
nel, did  distinguished  service  in  this  species  of  warfare.  His  haunts 
were  the  swamps  of  the  Lower  Pedee ;  and  such  was  the  security 
of  his  ])lace  of  retreat,  and  the  celerity  of  his  movements,  that  his 
plans  could  never  be  anticipated.  He  would  suddenly  appear,  at 
night,  with  his  band  of  rough  and  rudely-armed  horsemen,  in  the 
midst  of  a  British  encampment,  and  before  the  alarm  was  fairly 
given,  would  be  beyond  the  reach  of  pursuit,  having  accomplished 
the  purpose  of  his  incursion — whether  it  were  the  release  of  prison- 
ers or  the  collection  of  booty. 

The  tide  of  British  successes  began  to  turn  in  the  month  of  Octo- 
ber. Cornwallis  had  made  extensive  preparations  for  an  invasion 
of  North  Carolina;  Major  Ferguson,  with  a  considerable  body  of 
troops,  elTectcd  a  junction  with  the  tories  in  the  western  portion  of 
that  state.  A  superior  force  of  militia  and  volunteers,  including 
many  from  Virginia,  was  collected  by  the  patriots  of  that  vicinity  to 
oppose  the  invasion.  Retreating  hastily  before  their  advance,  Fer- 
guson took  a  position  on  King's  mountain,  at  the  border  of  South 
Carolina. 

An  attack  was  made  by  the  Americans,  in  three  columns,  from 
opposite  quarters.  Notwithstanding  repeated  repulses,  they  returned 
again  and  again  to  the  charge;  and,  finally,  Ferguson  having  fallen, 
with  a  great  number  of  his  men,  the  remainder,  numbering  about 
eight  hundred,  surrendered  at  discretion.  The  victors  immediately 
gratified  a  spirit  of  retaliation  for  the  severity  of  the  English,  b}'  put- 
ting to  death  a  number  of  particularly  obnoxious  tories,  found  among 
the  jjrisoners.  Cornwallis,  who  had  already  entered  North  Carolina, 
retreated  southward  upon  receiving  intelligence  of  Ferguson's  de- 
feat. Large  reinforcements  from  New  York  arrived  in  Charleston 
earlv  in  the  winter. 


293 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


•'1 


Ij     ujiL    Xm    <!•        X       b^     iLb         i/d>    i6oj  ( 


SORTHEEN  OPERATIONS. —  SPRINGFIELD  BURNED.  —  ARRIVAL 
OF   THE   FRENCH    FLEET   AND   FORCES:    BLOCKADE   AT   NEW- 
PORT.  TREASON   OF    ARNOLD.  —  TRIAL    AND    EXECUTION 

OF   MAJOR  ANDRt'.  —  CAUSES   OF   ARNOLD'S   DEFECTION. 

—  INDIAN    RAVAGES:    INVASION    OF    THE    MOHWVK 

VALLEY    BY    JOHNSON    AND    BRANT. 


At  the  north,  little  was  elTected  by  either  army  during  the  spring 
and  summer  of  1760.  The  British,  from  New  York,  made  two 
incursions  into  New  Jersey,  in  the  month  of  June.  Upon  the  first 
of  these  occasions  nothing  was  accomplished,  but  upon  the  second, 
the  village  of  Springfield,  garrisoned  by  a  continental  force,  under 
Greene,  was  destroyed.  The  main  American  army  remained  in  the 
vicinity  of  its  previous  winter-quarters,  occupied  only  in  opposing 
a  check  to  the  marauding  expeditions  of  the  enemy.  Such  was  the 
destitution  at  the  camp,  that  some  of  the  troops  were  driven  to  open 
expressions  of  mutiny. 

Great  expectations  were  formed  upon  the  reported  approach  of  a 
French  fleet  and  army;  which  arrived  in  the  month  of  July,  at  New- 
port, then  abandoned  by  the  British.  Six  thousand  troops,  under 
Count  Eocharnbeau,  were  brought  over,  and  preparations  were  itiade 
by  Washington  for  active  operations  against  New  York.  Unfortu- 
nately, the  British,  having  received  accessions  to  the  naval  force  on 
the  coast,  were  enabled  to  blockade  the  French  fleet  in  the  harboui 
of  Newport.  The  whole  army  of  auxiliaries,  together  with  a  b(^dv 
of  American  militia,  was,  therefore,  kept  idle,  bciii 
employed  in  defence  of  the  shipping  in  harbour. 

Between  the  lines  of  the  British  and  Continental  armies,  al*ove 
New  York,  an  intervening  space,  occupied  by  neither,  formed  a 
convenient  resort  fur  lawless  depredators,  who  took  advantage  of 
the  distracted  state  of  affuin-^,  for  purposes  of  i)nvate  plunder.  To 
cut  off  the  supply  of  provisions  from  the  British  army,  cattle  were 
made  liable  to  seizure,  upon  tlae  road  to  New  York,  within  certain 
limits,  in  this  debatable  ground,  and  arrests  of  suspicious  charac- 
ters were  permitted  and  encouraged. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  three  New  York  militia-men,  named 


necessarily 


THE  AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


299 


Paulding,  "VTilliams,  and  Yan  "Wert,  were  watching  the  road  near 
Tarrytown,  from  a  place  of  concealment.  They  stopped  a  solitary 
horseman,  wlio,  supposing  them  to  be  of  his  own  party,  announced 
himself  as  a  British  officer.  Discovering  them  to  be  Americans,  he 
made  large  ofT'crs  of  reward  if  he  might  be  allowed  to  pass.  These 
were  refused;  and,  upon  searching  his  person,  papers  were  found 
concealed  in  his  boots.  He  was  carried  by  his  captors  before  the 
American  Colonel  Jamison.  The  papers  secured  were  found  to  con- 
tain plans  of  the  fortifications  at  "West  Point,  with  the  numbers  of 
the  garrison,  and  descriptions  of  the  defences. 

Notice  was  immediately  dispatched  to  Arnold,  who  commanded 
at  that  post,  and  also  to  "Washington,  then  on  his  return  from  Hart- 
ford to  head-quarters.  The  former,  upon  the  receipt  of  the  intelli- 
gence, instantly  hastened  to  the  river,  and,  taking  his  barge,  went 
on  board  the  British  sloop-of-war  Vulture,  ,'hich  lay  at  anchor  a 
little  below  the  forts.  * 

A  scheme  of  treachery  was  now  apparent,  and  the  whole  plan 
was  soon  exposed  by  the  confessions  of  the  crptive  » I  Tarrytown, 
who  proved  to  be  Major  Andr<5,  adjutant-general  of  the  B;  'ish 
army,  a  young  man  universally  admired  for  talents  and  c  -:Mige, 
and  beloved  for  his  amiable  and  gentlemanly  dispc  'tion.  It  ap- 
peared that  Arnold  had,  for  some  time  past,  been  in  coamunication 
with  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  that  the  command  at  \Vest  Point  had 
been  solicited  and  obtained  by  him,  with  the  sole  object  of  its  sur- 
render to  the  enemy. 

To  treat  witli  him  for  this  purpose,  Andr^  had  proceeded  up  the 
Hudson  in  the  Vulture,  and  a  meeting  was  efiectec.  From  some 
unforeseen  difficulty,  he  was  unable  to  return  on  board,  and  was 
compelled  to  pass  the  night  at  a  house  within  the  American  lines. 
Attempting  to  make  his  way  to  New  York  by  land,  in  disguise, 
and  bearing  a  pass  from  Arnold,  he  was  arrested  in  the  manner 
before  related. 

Upon  a  trial  by  court-martial,  he  w--     mdemned  as  a  spy,  and  * 
Buffi^red  death,  in  accordance  with  the  severe  requirements  of  mar- 
tial law,  notwithstanding  the  vehement  exertions  of  Clinton  for  his 
release,  and  the  general  sympathv  in  his  behalf,  awakened  by  his 
high  character  and  noble  demei^nour. 

Arnold's  disaffection  appears  to  have  resulted,  principally,  from 
pecuniary  embarrassments,  the  consequence  of  his  own  reckless 
extravagance.     He  thought  himself  neglected  in  some  early  military 


f 


soo 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


appointments,  and,  subsequently,  tlie  partial  disallowance  of  an  un- 
reasonable claim  upon  congress,  made  by  him  in  relation  to  the 
expenses  ot"  the  Canadian  expedition,  mortified  and  enraged  him. 
He  had  also  been  tried  by  court-martial  for  alleged  peculation  in 
his  management  of  public  funds,  while  in  command  at  Philadelphia, 
and  had  received  a  reprimand  from  the  commander-in-chief. 

No  officer  in  the  American  army  exhibited  more  remarkable 
abilities  as  a  commander  than  Arnold,  and  in  personal  prowess  and 
courage,  he  was,  perhaps,  unequalled  by  any  of  his  associates.  Ills 
important  services  had  induced  his  countrymen  to  look  with  leniency 
upon  failings  which  would  have  endangered  the  popularity  of  an- 
other. In  proportion  to  the  former  complacency  of  the  community, 
was  their  indignation  at  this  exhibition  of  unprincipled  depravity — 
an  indignation  destined  to  be  immeasurably  heightened  by  the  sub- 
sequent conduct  of  its  object,  who  devoted  his  brilliant  talents  to  the 
service  of  the  enemy,  in  ac^^ve  warfare  against  his  countrymen. 

The  autumn  passed  away  with  no  farther  warlike  incidents  or 
much  public  importance.  A  savage  gxterilla  contest  desolated  por- 
tions of  the  Carolinas;  and  at  the  north-west,  the  exasperated  Iro- 
quois still  continued  to  .send  out  war-parties  for  the  plunder  and 
destruction  of  the  frontier  settlements.  In  October,  the  vallov  of 
the  Mohawk  was  desolated  by  a  mixed  j>arty  of  whites,  under  John- 
son, and  Indians  led  by  Brant  and  the  Seneca  half-brccd,  Corn 
Planter.  A  letter,  written  by  Brant  on  this  occasion,  sjicaks  with 
indignation  at  cruelties  practised  by  his  associates,  particularly  the 
Butlers,  whose  names  are  connected  with  every  atrocity  in  the  con 
duct  of  this  predatory  warfare. 

KzRV  Stii.es. — In  1777.  ti.-'  ];■  v.  Kzni  Stilco,  1>.  D.,  n  native  of  Noit'ii  llavcn,  anU 
fcnmrly  a  t.itnr  in  tlip  c-oUcgr.  was  duieicn  i)rc'.-»iUcnt  of  tlie  iiwlitutioii,  aiul  irniaiiicil  in 
olVi.i'  until  his  iltatli,  May  I'J,  17;i.'>.  IIi'  was  uw  of  tlii'  must  It'aniiil  ati>l  patiinlio  iiii'ii 
of  tli<*  HKf.  Ill-  iiiUKars  to  liavi-  ln-in  otn'  of  llio  lii>t  jiirsuns  in  tin'  ii'Untiy  wlic  antic- 
iputoil  unJ  pnsliott.-'i  llie  indcjicndi-uw  of  tlio  Ainericiin  coloniis.  In  1772  In-  wrut.'  to  ii 
frii'inl : — '•Wiiiii  llcavfn  clmll  liavi-  (louMcil  our  niillioiis  a  few  liiuc  s  nmrc,  il  will  nut  1m> 
in  tin-  powiT  of  our  i-ni'mit-s  loclia.»ti.s«'  tw  witii  Hcor|iionn.''  In  1771  lie  aiiiircs.si'd  oni'of 
his  Rufflixh  c'orri'H|x)Hik'nt.'«  a.*  f>llow«: — "  If  opprcstiion  proti'eda,  UoHiMiti^ni  may  forno  iiti 
nnnuai  fon>rr<'s»;  ami  n  jmlilic  spirit  of  cntirpriHi'  may  orijrinuto  an  AnicriiMn  .l/.iyMt 
Ch'trtii  wwiX  y?i.7  <•/ /i'iy/i'.«.  siip|H.r1t<l  Willi  (iudi  intripiil  nml  por.si'V(  nnj;  iinporliniily  as 
evcrj  noviTc'iirnty  may  hin-afii  r  l^hVfo  it  not  wise  to  willistand.  Tluro  will  Ih-  a  liuuny- 
mrilf  in  .\iniTif:  Th"  Hcv.  Hi<lianl  Price,  in  allusion  to  u  Idler  rci'iivxl  liy  Inni  I'roni 
I>r.  ."^tilfit,  just  ui  tlic  lM•)(inrliM^  of  tlic  It<. volution,  assurcH  ud  that  liu  "predicted  in  it  tlio 
Tory  event  in  wliieli  tliu  war  luw  i.ssu'hI  ;  imrtieularly  tlic  convcrMlon  of  liie  colonies  Into 
so  many  di.stinet  and  inde|K'ndent  states,  uiii'.vd  under  coiiKrcfv."  lie  puMislnd  HeviTkl 
ordination,  funeral,  and  otIitT  ix-(-ii.«iotial  sermons,  and  tlic>  "lli.><tury  of  tlio  three  .Iiidg<.>a 
of  King  Charles  I. — Wbulley,  (Jwfle,  uiid  Pi-wvell." — llMMer's  IJmOtry  ii/  t'ounedkut. 


THE  AMERICAN    BEVOLUTION.  gOJ 


\j    JLJj    ufui    il*      uL     JLi    a>b        i/oa    4i6\»    w  • 

REVOLT    OF    THE    PENNSYLVANIA  TROOPS.  —  ARNOLD'S  EXPI- 

DITION    INTO    VIRGINIA. GREENE    IN    COMMAND    OP    THE 

SOUTHERN   ARMY.  — MORGAN'S   DETACHMENT:    BATTLE   OF 

COWPENS;  PURSUIT  OF  MORGAN  BY  CORNWALLIS:  PASSAGE 

OF  THE  CATAWBA:  RETREAT  INTO  VIRGINIA:  BATTLE  OF 

GUILFORD   COURT-HOUSE.  —  GREENE'S  MARCH  INTO 

SOUTH    CAROLINA.  —  CORNWALLIS   IN   VIRGINIA. 

—  BATTLE    AT    HOBKIRK'S    HILL.  —  SEIZURE 

OF    BRITISH  "FORTS   BY   MARION    AND    LEE. 

The  year  1781  opened  unpromisingly  for  the  Americans.  A 
dangerous  disaffection  in  the  camp  at  Morristown  broke  out  at  this 
period  in  open  revolt.  The  causes  of  complaint,  were  unpaid  arrear- 
ages, and  a  dispute  respecting  the  terms  of  enlistment.  The  regi- 
ments from  Pennsylvania  claimed  their  discharge  at  the  end  of  a 
three  years'  term,  although,  according  to  the  representation  of  their 
officers,  the  whole  period  of  the  war  was  included  in  their  engage- 
ment to  serve. 

Thirteen  hundred  men,  defying  the  authority  of  their  command- 
ers, one  of  whom  was  killed  in  the  attempt  to  reduce  them  to  obe- 
dience, marched  oft',  under  arms,  in  the  direction  of  Phiiidelphia, 
with  the  expressed  purpose  of  compelling  compliance  with  their 
demands.  General  Wayne  in  vain  attempted  to  recall  them  to  a 
sense  of  duty,  and  was  forced  to  content  himself  with  procuring 
such  supplies  for  their  use  on  the  march  as  should  preclude  the 
necc.-^sity  fur  plundering  the  inhabitants.  At  Princeton,  commi.s- 
sioncrs  from  congress,  and  from  the  state  authorities,  held  a  confer- 
ence with  the  malcontents,  and,  after  some  discussion,  the  nuiin 
pointa  in  dispute  were  yielded  by  the  former.  Several  messengers, 
sent  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  to  persuade  the  mutineer.-^,  by  handsome 
ofters,  to  enlist  in  the  king's  army,  were  seized  and  hanged  as  spies. 
A  sinnlar  outbreak  among  the  New  .lersey  troop.-^,  was  (juelled  by 
force — two  of  the  ringleaders  being  slK)t.  These  movements  had 
the  elVect  to  rouso  congress  and  the  states  to  a  sense  of  tlie  ncceKsitii  a 
of  the  army,  and  a  large  sum  of  money  was  proni])tly  raised,  in 
specie,  for  part  payment  of  arrearages. 


f 


i 


' 


802 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


had 


,'ed,  as  the 


Bhrly  in  January,  Arnold,  who  had  receive 
intended  treachery,  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  pounds,  and  a  commis- 
sion as  a  brigadier-general  in  the  British  arm}'-,  commenced  active 
oj)erations  in  Virginia.  He  passed  up  James  river,  with  a  consider 
able  force,  and  after  plundering  Richmond,  and  doing  much  damage 
by  the  destruction  of  buildings,  together  with  valuable  public  stores, 
he  entered  upon  the  occuj)atiou  of  Portsmouth. 

A  great  eflbrt  was  made  to  outnumber  and  overpower  this  detach- 
ment. La  Fayette,  v/ith  a  body  of  troops  from  New  England  and 
New  Jersey,  was  dispatched  against  it;  and  the  French  fleet,  then 
free  to  put  to  sea,  made  sail  for  the  Chesapeake,  for  the  purpose  of 
cutting  off  retreat.  This  movement  was  anticipated  by  the  British 
squadron,  which  took  possession  of  the  bay,  after  an  engagement 
with.,  and  discomfiture  'jf  the  cnem}'. 

The  command  of  the  continental  army  at  the  south,  previous  to 
this  period,  had  been  conferred  upon  General  Greene,  in  place  of 
Gates,  recalled.  The  small  force  under  his  command,  consisted  of 
but  two  thousand  men,  notwithstanding  endeavours  made,  during 
the  early  part  of  the  winter,  to  procure  recruits  from  Virginia  and 
elsewhere.  Against  a  detachment  of  about  one  thousand  of  these 
troops,  under  General  ^forgan,  while  on  their  march  into  western 
South  Carolina,  Cornwallis  dispatched  Tarleton,  with  a  force  about 
equal  in  numbers.  His  own  plan  was  to  intercept  communication 
between  the  divisions  of  the  American  army,  by  marching  north- 
ward from  his  camp  at  Winnsborough. 

Hotly  pursued  by  Tarleton,  whose  movements  were  always  rapid 
and  prompt,  Morgan  made  a  stand  at  the  Cowpens,  in  the  present 
county  of  Spartanburgh,  near  the  North  Carolina  border.  Deceived 
by  a  pretended  or  apparent  retreat  of  the  advanced  lines,  the  British 
rushed  to  the  attack  without  due  precaution  for  the  preservation  of 
order,  and  when  thev  found  themselves  coollv  withstood  bv  the 
continentals,  who  poured  in  a  heavy  and  de.stnietivc  iire  nt  close- 
quarter'',  their  line  was  broken,  and  a  complete  rout  ensued.  More 
than  half  oT  tiie  entire  force  were  taken  prisoners  or  killed.  The 
battle  was  foneht  on  the  17th  of  January,  1781. 

Marching  with  great  celerity,  Morgan  gained  the  fords  of  Catawba 
on  the  29th,  his  object  beinjf  to  t.ike  his  prisoners  to  a  place  of  secu- 
rity in  Virginia.  Imtnediately  aHer  the  battle  at  Cowpen.-^,  Tarleton, 
with  the  remainder  of  his  detachment,  elVecU'd  a  junction  with  Corn- 
wallis.    Strengthened   by  roinforecmcnts  from   Charleston,  under 


eward  of  bia 
id  a  commis- 
enced  active 
1  a  consider 
mch  damage 
"lublic  stores, 

r  this  detach- 
England  and 
:h  fleet,  then 
;  purpose  of 
T  the  British 
engagement 

previous  to 
,  in  place  of 
consisted  of 
[lade,  during 
/"irgiiiia  and 
and  of  tlicse 
into  western 
force  about 
nmunication 
jhing  north- 

dways  rapid 
the  present 
•.  Deceived 
I,  the  British 
scrvation  of 
ood  by  the 
ire  at  close- 
sued.  More 
<illcd.     The 

\  of  Catawba 
ilacc  of  secu- 
w^,  Tarlcton, 
1  with  Corn- 
ston,  under 


■M'f^^^^ii^    :^^^??'M^-: 


.'*?■•'/■ 


V 


;-.i.; 


':<    K 


.y.j^.*: 


^M^^'^' 


•IjESK.'* 


j(  I 


i    ! 


I. 


802 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


tV    M, 


li 


M 


j^usu  urmy,  i  .  aoMvo 

p  James  riviei\  ■  t 

.,  V  .!,..':.•'.    «*-^     •'   -^      i/iOTid, and  do'ng  much  damage 

•  .•£»s1.-.  uoi:  A  MudiTi^'y    !#;.•.■'**#  tii  yj^u&blt  nublic aUiiea, 
-    r.wrr^  npon  the  ocrtrtmtioB  ^-f^^mlHjic  liiu .,       , 
A  ;rreftt  cilbrt  va«  niafi<'  t.    .  r4HB.\^!t  .u  cn'crrvvc-'^  this  letach- 
ment    lui  FaycU*,  with  ;•  of  tiwop    fi*n>f-^  d  and 

New  Jei^y,  was  disi 'tched  agmost  it;  ftid  ttV  -t,  then' 

free  to  putto  esea.  t-Ic  sail  f'X  Uit  Che»r  (.!.>•,  u»r  jiw;  piupctf'  of 
'nilBm<>v     ler •-l^'jii  ;.•.•;<.     .;.u  Srthe  rJrijsh 
ji«k  .-  ju  vf  the.  'ay,  after  an  eiigagwaeriV 

.ii«^    il  u-  I.J,  ;it  the  South,  previoTss  to 

it  -Ml  (i  6or»l  Greene,  in  j.4j»ce  of 

•"•'    'piMr  «w<  >  '>nrmJ4DU,  ooaslsi^d  of 

r*  !e,  during 

■  'giiiia  aiid 

'  ♦he*-:; 

obed  Uk»4i„v^i  ,  'V  t^i  H  fofr«!  nbout 
i  ^  kf  .  noBimunicatioi, 


cutring  ojf  rei 
squadron.  '  ^ 
with.  .i!id 
'I 


i»* 


•'If 

eqiihl  la  : 


im 


•iji 


l^u  ij:iii\. 


Miird  from  nUi  OiM-'-  ^ Wuuw*    ron  ^ 


ng  nurth 


Hotly  piirti  "it 

And  prompt,  ]M  .  ^wia^ 
roilnty  of  Sp.iftdai 


;i 


4'4 


waliit.     birer. 


r-,?  ,  ^.^  -to  '    'v.T-.fr*?  were  bU-a|s  «]•». 
n   ;•     .id  *l  tt'C  L'jwp.n*,  *-»    iJie  fr^aobt 
-   N'<ra»  '  boiwk.  .JT« 

•5*  f>f  lb  i  udvariorsl  Itno-,  tU«  Bnui*? 
•'      ,   ^«er.atk>7  t' 
.J   wtfcliptooc:   ^     »t- 
.  .  ot.d    l.^iMracltfy«  ^''    »i't 
«u,  (»•  ;  %e»iir;  Je<o  roit  <  i.ttued. 

*U»r  'ttijgr'i I! ed  tho fi'ni- «>. 


'■rrcmrnw  fWwn   « 


1' 

1 


] 

■; 

f         ^/ 

,£A 

« 

-- 

J.  "  .  ■/ 

J 

i 

i 

^ 

-      ^ 

-3 

1 ,  * 

'r^\ 

^  # 

■:^*i' 

y 

• 

\ 

1 

* 

1 

■   1 
"-1 

ra^  '-^mmmm 

5^1 

L-     >nii> — "r 

m          — 

\-^0rf^'"    \ 

jk  .^  JE^ 

:^j:  "^^^-iiiNp.. ;-ii 

* 

I 


;#*  -i 


TIIE  AMERICAN    REVOLUTICN. 


803 


Leslie,  the  whole  army  was  put  in  rapid  motion  to  intercept  or  over- 
take the  victorious  continentals.  Morgan  had  effected  a  passage  of 
the  Catawba  but  two  hours  before  the  arrival  of  Cornwallis'  advance 
upon  the  bank. 

Night  coming  on,  a  sudden  rise  of  water  delayed  the  pi  -suing 
army,  and  secured  the  escape  of  the  Americans.  General  Greene, 
with  a  few  attendants,  joined  this  division  on  the  31st,  and  assumed 
command.  As  soon  as  the  British  could  pass  the  river,  (on  the  1st 
of  February,)  the  pursuit  recommenced.  The  Americans  reached 
the  Yadkin,  with  the  enemy  close  upon  their  rear,  and  there  a  piece 
of  good  fortune,  similar  to  that  experienced  at  the  Catawba,  checked 
pursuit  for  a  time,  and  gave  opportunity  for  a  junction  of  the  two 
divisions  of  the  army  at  Guilford  court-house. 

The  endeavour  of  Cornwallis  was  now  to  cut  off  their  retreat  into 
Virginia,  at  the  ford  of  Dan  river.  The  retreating  army  still  suc- 
ceeded in  maintaining  its  advanced  position,  and  reached  Virginia 
in  safety,  leaving  the  British  masters  of  the  Carolinas.  In  the  long 
and  rapid  march  from  South  Carolina,  the  American  troops  suffered 
severely  from  over-fatigue,  and  from  the  insufficiency  of  clothing 
suitable  to  the  severity  of  the  season. 

Cornwallis  took  up  his  quarters  at  Ilirisborough,  and  resorted  to 
measures  similar  to  those  enforced  in  South  Carolina,  for  organizing 
and  encouraging  the  torics,  and  for  the  punishment  and  humiliation 
of  the  patriots.  The  latter  were  not  slow  in  retaliation  whenever 
opportunity  offered.  Greene,  having  received  some  addition  to  his 
aimy  from  the  Virginia  militia,  reentered  North  Carolina.  lie  at 
first  contented  himself  with  checking  the  movements  of  the  torics. 
A  party  of  these,  numbering  two  or  three  hundred,  falling  in  with  a 
detachment  of  cavalry,  iinder  the  American  Colonel  Lee,  supposed 
it  to  be  Tarleton's  legion,  and,  in  perfect  confidence,  exposed  their 
own  character  and  position.     They  were  all  massacred  on  the  sjiot. 

Largely  reinforced  by  vohmtecrs  from  Virginia  and  Nortli  Caro- 
lina, Greene  finally  ofl'ered  battle  near  Guilford  court-house,  on  tlie 
15th  of  March.  His  forces  out-numbered  tliose  of  the  enemy  in  the 
ratio  of  more  than  two  to  one,  but  a  large  portion  of  them  were 
inexperienced  volunteers  and  militia.  The  latter  were  of  little  or 
no  service  in  the  engagement,  many  of  them  throwing  down  their 
arms,  and  dispersing  at  the  first  discharge.  The  continental  troops 
exhibited  both  courage  and  firmnes.s,  but  were  finally  driven  from 
their  position  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and  made  an  orderly 
Vol.  IV.— 48 


1 


804 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


i    ■/' 


I      J 


retreat.  The  loss  on  both  sides  was  heavy,  but  that  of  the  victors 
was  the  greatest,  amounting  to  more  than  five  hundred.  The  British 
troops  were  in  a  state  of  extreme  suffering  from  want  of  food  and 
from  the  fatigues  of  the  engagement;  advantage  could  not,  therefore, 
be  taken  of  the  victory. 

No  pursuit  was  ordered,  and  Cornwallis,  finding  great  difficulty 
in  procuring  supplies  for  his  army,  took  up  his  march  down  Capo 
Fear  riv-er,  towards  Wilmington.  In  the  month  of  April,  General 
Greene,  with  nearly  two  thousand  men,  marched  into  South  Carolina, 
where  the  British  army  of  occupation  was  so  far  reduced  by  the 
detachment  for  invasion  of  North  Carolina,  that  a  fair  opportunity 
oflered  for  a  recovery  of  the  state,  or,  at  least,  for  compelling  Corn- 
wallis to  move  southward  for  its  protection.  The  latter  general, 
instead  of  adopting  that  policy,  marched  into  Virginia,  and  united 
his  forces  with  those  before  sent  into  the  country,  under  Arnold, 
and  now  commanded  by  Phillips. 

The  state  of  allairs  in  the  Carollnas,  throughout  these  campaigns, 
was  that  of  civil  war  in  its  worst  and  most  ferocious  aspect.  Such 
disregard  for  human  life  was,  perhaps,  exhibited  at  no  other  period, 
and  in  no  other  quarter,  during  the  war.  Whigs  and  tories  rivalled 
each  other  in  sanguinary  retribution  for  mutual  wrongs.  It  is  im- 
possible to  ascertain,  with  any  approach  to  certainty,  the  number  of 
those  who  perished  in  skirmishes,  at  the  hands  of  the  lawless  mobs, 
or  victims  of  private  malice,  in  this  fratricidal  contest,  but  it  must 
have  been  very  large,  and  by  some  is  computed  by  thousands. 

Greene,  entering  South  Carolina,  posted  himself  upon  Ilobkirk's 
hill,  in  the  vicinity  of  Camden,  then  occupied  by  an  inferior  force 
of  the  enemy,  under  Lord  Ilawdon.  His  cavalry  was  on  march,  by 
a  detour,  to  join  the  partisan  forces  of  Marion,  and  intercept  com- 
munication with  Charleston,  lie  was  attacked  at  his  t  csition  on 
the  2oth  of  April.  The  Americans  fought  bravely,  but  were  unable 
to  resist  the  charge  of  the  British  bayonet.  Obliged  to  retreat, 
Greene  fell  back  to  Ilugely's  mills,  several  miles  di.stant. 

The  mounted  forces,  under  Marion  and  Lee,  succeeded  in  occupy- 
ing the  pa.«'ses  on  the  nortli  of  the  Santee,  and  in  seizing  upon  several 
defensive  posts.  Sumpter  and  his  followers  were  no  less  successful 
in  attacks  upon  detached  garrisons,  stationed  to  maintain  lines  of 
communication.  Forts  Watson  and  Motte,  with  Orangeburgh, 
Georgetown,  and  Augusta,  were  soon  in  the  hands  of  the  Ameri- 
cans.    The  British  fort,  "Ninety-Six,"  hefd  out  against  every  effort 


m 


THE  AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


805 


to  take  it  by  siege  or  storm.  The  heat  of  the  season  suspended 
further  active  operations.  The  great  effort  of  the  campaign  had 
been  so  far  accomplished,  that  the  British  had  been  obliged  to  con- 
centrate their  forces,  and  abandon  further  attempts  at  extended 
occupation.  ^ 


WAR    BETWEEN    ENOLANB   AND   HOLLAND.  —  SEIZTIRE   AND    TLUN- 
DER   OP   ST.    EUSTATIDS. THE   ARMED    NEUTRALITY.  —  RECOV- 
ERY  OF   WEST   FLORIDA    BY   SPAIN.  —  CONTINENTAL   CUR- 
RENCY.—  PLAN   FOR   THE   RECOVERY   OF    NEW   YORK. — 
VIRGINIA  RAVAGED  BY   PHILLIPS  AND  C0RNWALLI3. 
— ENCAMPMENTS   AT    YORKTOWN    AND    GLOUCESTER 

POINT. WASHINGTON'S    MARCH   SOUTHWARD. 

— ATTACK    ON    NEW    LONDON    AND    OROTON. 
—  CAMPAIGN    IN  SOUTH  CAROLINA. BAT- 
TLE   NEAR    EUTAW    SPRINGS. 

Beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  State?,  during  tlie  winter  and 
spring,  important  events  had  transpired,  at  which,  although  con- 
nected with  the  difficulties  between  England  and  her  colonies,  we 
can  barely  glance.  During  the  autumn  of  1780,  the  British  govern- 
ment obtained  information  of  a  correspondence  between  the  United 
States  and  nollan<l  relative  to  a  commercial  treaty.  An  arrogant 
demand  upon  the  latter  for  explanation  or  atonement,  not  receiving 
the  attention  required,  was  soon  followed  by  a  declaration  of  war. 
The  opportunity  presented  for  the  acquisition  of  an  enormous  booty, 
was  too  tempting  to  be  resisted,  and,  doubtless,  occasioned  this  pre- 
cipitancy of  action.  The  Dutch  possessions  in  the  We.st  Indies  were 
seized  by  a  fleet,  under  llodnc}'',  in  the  month  of  February,  1781.  At 
the  i.slan(l  of  kSi.  Eu.statius,  an  immense  number  of  ships  and  an  accu- 
mulation of  merchandise,  valued  at  fifteen  millions  of  dollars,  were 
taken  as  lawful  prize..  This  i.sland  had  been  one  of  the  principal 
places  of  dcpo.sit  for  goods  intended  to  be  shipped  to  the  United  States. 

England  was  thus  involved  in  war  with  France  and  Holland. 
Her  claim  of  the  right  to  interfere  with  the  commerce  of  neutral 
nations,  had  also  caused  the  formation  of  a  coalition  by  the  principal 


806 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


northern  powers  of  Europe,  known  as  tlie  "Armed  Neutrality,"  for 
the  purpose  of  mutual  protection  in  their  commercial  rights  against 
the  injurious  assumptions  of  Great  Britain, 

Spain,  bosiiks  uniting  her  powerful  fleet  to  that  of  France, 
for  operation  against  the  common  enem}*^  took  the  occasion  to 
recover  the  sottlenicnts  of  West  Florida  from  the  British.  This  was 
eflectcd  in  the  sj)ring  of  1781,  by  a  force  from  Louisiana,  under 
Galvez,  liic  Spanish  governor,  with  the  cooperation  of  a  fleet  from 
Havana.  -  • 

An  important  change,  introduced  by  congress  during  the  summer 
of  this  year,  in  the  conduct  of  financial  operations,  by  which  the 
government  refused  to  deal  further  with  the  depreciated  paper  cur- 
rency, rendered  this  entirely  worthless.  Much  of  the  pajier  was 
taken  up  by  individual  states — by  which  it  was  to  be  redeemed 
according  to  the  provisions  accompanying  its  issue — at  an  enormous 
depreciation,  .is  an  equivalent  for  taxes,  but  an  immense  amount 
remained  upon  the  hands  of  private  holders.  Various  schemes  for 
replacing  it,  at  its  market  value,  by  a  "new  tenor"  of  bills,  bearing 
interest,  proved  failures,  as  nothing,  at  this  period,  could  sustain  the 
value  of  any  public  issue,  either  by  the  union,  or  by  states  in  their 
separate  capacity.  Nearly  all  of  the  latter  had  pursued  a  course 
similar  to  that  of  the  confederation,  in  this  respect,  and  their  paper 
had  experienced  a  steady  and  hopeless  decline  in  value. 

At  the  o]iening  of  the  campaign  of  1781,  extensive  preparations 
were  made  In*  the  United  States  for  a  systematic  cifort  at  the  recov- 
ery of  New  York.  For  this  purpose,  forces  were  gradually  concen- 
trated in  that  vicinity;  but  the  events  of  the  spring  and  summer 
gave  a  new  aspect  to  the  campaign,  and  changed  the  scene  of  action. 

Til  •  Britisli  forces,  under  I'hillips,  in  Vir^'inia,  greatly  outnum- 
bered any  which,  at  that  time,  could  be  brought  to  oppose  them. 
The  only  efVective  American  troops  in  this  quarter,  were  La  Fayette's 
continentals.  Phillips,  with  little  opposition,  sent  detachments  up 
the  James  aiid  Appamattox  rivers,  and  plundered  and  destroyed 
property  to  the  amount  of  millions.  Joined  by  the  forces  of  Corn- 
wallis,  in  the  month  of  ^fay,  and  by  troops  sent  round  from  New 
York,  the  army  of  invasion  amounted  to  about  eight  thousand  men: 
that  of  the  Americans,  in  Virginia,  including  raw  recruits  an  1 
militia,  little  exceeded  three  thousand.  A  little  later,  the  Pennsyl- 
vania regimenbJ,  under  Wayne,  eflectcd  a  juncL'on  with  La  Fayette's 
army,  increa.-iiig  it  to  about  four  thousand. 


THE  AMEKICAN    REVOLUTION. 


807 


Cornwalli?,  after  destroying  a  valuaLle  collection  of  arms  and 
Btorcs  at  tlie  armory  on  tlie  James  river,  in  Fluvanva,  and  driving 
the  state  legislature  precipitately  from  Charlottesville,  then  the  plac3 
of  session,  moved  with  his  whole  army  towards  the  coast.  lie  had 
received  instructions  to  this  efiect  from  Clintun,  wh(),  having  ob- 
tained intimation  of  the  intended  attack  upon  New  York,  desired 
to  dispose  the  Virginia  division  where  it  could  be  made  available  in 
case  of  necessity. 

Early  in  August,  a  position  was  accordingly  taken  at  Yorktown  and 
Gloucester  Point,  on  either  side  of  York  river,  at  its  dcbouchcment 
into  Chesaj)eake  bay.  Every  effort  was  made  to  strengthen  and 
fortify  these  posts:  a  considerable  na  al  force  was  alsu  at  hand  in 
the  river  and  baj^,  to  cooperate  in  any  future  movement. 

The  northern  army,  under  Wii-shington,  was  joined  by  the  French 
forces,  so  long  stationed  at  Newport,  in  the  month  of  .Inly.  While 
preparations  were  actively  going  on  to  prosecute  the  siege  of  New 
York,  information  was  received  that  a  powerful  French  fleet  from 
the  West  Indies,  commanded  by  Count  de  Gra.«.se,  was  momentarily 
expected  in  the  Chesapeake.  Determined  to  seize  so  favourable  an 
opportunity  for  the  annihilation  of  the  army  of  Coruwallis,  Wa.sh- 
ington  abandoned,  for  the  time,  his  designs  against  New  York,  and 
hastened  to  put  the  main  army  en  route  for  the  .south.  He  was  care- 
ful to  conceal  this  change  of  operations  from  the  enemy,  and  so  suc- 
cessfully was  the  movement  planned  and  conducted,  that  Clinton 
had  no  intimation  of  the  new  turn  of  affairs  until  the  army  was  safe 
from  interception  or  pursuit. 

Advantage  was  now  taken  of  the  withdrawal  of  tlie  continental 
and  French  armies,  for  an  expedition  into  Connecticut.  The  traitor 
Arnold,  to  whom  tiie  command  was  intrusted,  shaped  his  course  for 
New  London.  On  the  morning  of  Sejitomber  6th,  a  fli-et  of  twenty- 
four  sail  was  .seen  oil"  tlie  harbour.  About  sixteen  hundred  troops 
were  landed,  in  two  division.s,  one  led  Vjy  Arnold  in  per.^on,  on  tlio 
New  London  side,  the  other  by  Colonel  Eyre,  at  Groton. 

Fort  (iris wold,  on  the  heights  at  the  latter  plac,  was  garri.'^oned 
by  one  hundred  and  sixty  volunteers,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Ledyard.  With  tiic  expectation  of  receiving  an  immediate  rein- 
forcement of  miliiia,  it  was  determined  to  defend  the  post.  This 
expectation  proved  vain;  the  fort  was  carried  by  storm,  and  moat 
of  the  garrison,  in  accordance  with  the  cruel  u.sage  of  war,  were 
cut  to  j/ieces  for   defending  an  untenable  i>osition.     An  eye-wii 


808 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


I 


neas*  thus  describes  tlic  catastrophe:  "Colonel  LcJv"  j-lj  sf^cin^  tho 
enemy  within  the  fort,  gave  orders  to  cease  firing,  ::.n.}  to  throw 
down  our  arms,  as  the  fort  had  surrendered.  We  did  o,  uut  they 
continued  firing  in  platoons  upon  those  who  were  retreating  to  the 
magazine  and  barrack-rooms  for  safety.  At  this  moment,  the  rene- 
gade colonel  commanding,  cried  out,  'Who  commands  this  garri- 
son?' Colonel  Ledyard,  who  was  standing  near  mc,  answered,  'I  did, 
sir,  but  you  do  now,'  at  the  same  time  stepping  forward,  handing 
him  his  sword,  with  point  towards  himself"  The  narrator  was,  at 
this  moment,  wounded  by  a  bayonet  thrust;  hecontinues:  "The  first 
person  I  saw  afterwards,  was  my  brave  commander,  a  corpse  by  my 
side,  having  been  run  through  the  body  with  his  own  sword  by  the 
savage  renegade.  Never  was  a  scene  of  more  brutal,  wanton  carnage 
than  now  took  place.  The  enemy  were  still  firing  on  us  by  platoons, 
and  in  the  barrack-rooms.  *  *  All  this  time  the  bayonet  was 
freely  used,  even  on  those  who  were  helplessly  wounded,  and  in  the 
agonies  of  death."  Those  of  the  wounded  who  escaped  the  general 
massacre,  were  treated  with  great  brutality  and  neglect. 

Arnold's  division  met  with  similar  success  in  the  attack  upon  New 
London.  The  town  was  plundered,  and,  at  the  same  time,  set  on 
fire,  and  reduced  to  ashes.  Nothing  further  was  attempted:  the 
country  adjacent  presented  little  temptation  to  the  marauders,  and 
they  immediately  reembarked,  and  set  sail  for  New  York  with  their 
booty  and  a  number  of  prisoners. 

While  the«j  events  were  taking  place  at  the  north.  General  Greene 
had  been  actively  engaged  in  preparing  for  the  renewal  of  hostilities 
in  Carolina-  Towards  the  close  of  August,  having  procured  rein- 
forcements of  militia,  and  a  supply  of  horses  for  his  cavalry  corps, 
he  left  hi<  quarters  among  the  hills  of  the  Santee,  and  marched  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy,  then  under  commaml  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Stewart  An  indecisive  and  bloody  battle  was  fimght,  on  the  8th 
of  September,  in  the  nei^dibourhpod  of  Eutaw  Springs.  The  Amer- 
ican forces  rather  exceeded  those  of  the  enemy  in  point  of  numbers, 
amountinjr  to  more  tlian  two  thousand  men. 

After  this  engagement,  Greene  drew  oil'  his  forces  to  his  fi>rmer 
place  of  encampment,  at  the  Santee  hills;  tho  British  moved  towards 
Charleston.  The  latter,  although  so  frequently  victorious  through- 
out these  s-juthern  campaigns,  and  although  favoured  by  a  large 
party  among  the  inhabitants,   had  failed  to  gain   any  important 

*  Steplion  Hempstead. 


THE  AilEKlCAN    KJiVOLUTION. 


309 


advantage  by  their  conquests.  It  was  comparatively  easy  to  over- 
run the  country,  and  to  inflict  incalculable  injury  upon  the  property 
of  the  scattered  population ;  but  they  always  left  enemies  in  their 
rear,  and  the  obstinacy  of  the  Anglo  Saxon  disposition,  duly  inher- 
ited by  the  Americans,  and  losing  nothing  of  its  force  by  translation 
to  the  New  World,  continually  strengthened  the  antagonistic  spirit 
of  the  people.  The  operations  of  Stewart  were  thenceforth  coniined 
to  the  vicinity  of  Charleston. 


FRENCH  FLEET  IN  THE  CHESAPEAKE. — SIEGE  OP  YORKTOWN 

SURRENDER    OP    CO  RN  W  A  L  I,  IS.  —  WINTER-QUARTERS. 

PROCEEDINGS    IN    THE    ENGLISH    PARLIAMENT.  —  NEGO- 
TIATIONS   FOR    PEACE. — TERMS   OP    TREATY.  —  CESSA- 
TION    OP      HOSTILITIES. DISAFFECTION     IN     THE 

CONTINENTAL   ARMY.  —  EVACUATION    OP    NEW    YORK 
— POSITION    OP    THE    UNITED    STATES. 


About  the  1st  of  September,  1781,  after  a  long  series  of  manoeu- 
vres, in  which  he  wisely  avoided  any  general  engagement  with  the 
British  fleet,  the  Count  de  Grasse  brought  twenty-four  ships  of  the 
line  safely  into  the  Chesapeake,  thus  securing  complete  ))ossession 
of  the  bay,  and  jirecluding  all  possibility  of  Cornwallis'  clfecting  a 
retreat  by  sea.  'J'he  fleet  was  soon  after  joined  by  the  French 
squadron  from  Newport,  commanded  by  Du  Barras. 

The  American  army,  concentrated  for  the  purpose  of  laying  siege 
to  Yorktown,  including  continental;*,  militia,  the  Frencli  previously 
stationed  at  Newport,  and  those  newly  landed  by  De  Gras.-^e, 
amounted  to  sixteen  thou.^^and  men.  That  of  Cornwallis  did  not 
exceed  eight  thousand.  After  detaching  a  force  to  hold  in  check 
the  British  at  Gloucester  Point,  Washington  entered  vigorously 
upon  the  systematic  prosecution  of  the  siege.  The  first  works  were 
thrown  uj)  on  the  night  of  fl^e  Hth  of  October:  three  days  after- 
wards, they  were  so  fl\r  completed  tha{  heavy  artillery  was  planted, 
and  brought  to  bear,  at  a  distance  of  but  six  hundred  yards  from  the 
British  line.  A  second  parallel  was  commenced  oii  the  nigl»t  of  the 
11th,  at  an  intermediate  distance  between  the  first  and  the  enemy's 


310 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


position.  The  work  could  not  be  safely  carried  on,  in  consequence 
of  a  heavy  lire  from  two  advanced  redoubts,  which  were,  therefore, 
Btonned,  and  connected  with  the  second  line  of  fortifications.  This 
service  was  accomplished  by  two  distinct  detachments,  one  Ameri- 
can, the  other  French — the  efibrts  uf  either  were  thus  stimulated  by 
an  ardent  spirit  of  enmlation. 

The  Americans,  being  well  supplied  with  battering  artillery,  now 
opened  so  hcavj'  a  lire  upon  the  British  fortifications  as  to  disable 
many  of  the  guns,  and  ellect  breaches  in  the  works.  Yorktown  was 
no  longer  tenable,  and  Cornwallis,  on  the  evening  of  October  IGth, 
endeavoured  to  escape  by  crossing  to  Gloucester  Toint.  Failing  in 
the  attempt  to  transport  his  troops  over  the  river,  in  consequence 
of  a  severe  storm,  he  had  no  resource  but  a  capitulation.  Projjosala 
to  this  effect  were  made  on  the  day  follow  ing,  and  the  terms  were 
speedily  arranged-  The  wholo  British  army,  more  than  seven 
thousand  men,  became  priaoners  of  war ;  the  naval  force  surrendered 
to  the  French  admiral. 

This  victory  was  the  crowning  event  of  the  war.  Although  hos- 
tilities still  lingered  throughout  the  succeeding  year,  prior  to  the 
conclusion  of  negotiations  for  peace,  they  involved  no  extensive 
military  operations.  A  partisan  warfare  still  desolated  some  of  the 
southern  and  western  district^?,  and  the  frontier  was,  from  time  to 
time,  harassed  by  incursions  of  the  savages.  The  main  French  and 
continental  armies  went  into  winter-quarters  in  November.  Greene, 
with  the  remains  of  the  southern  army,  took  a  station  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Charleston,  to  restrain  foraging  expeditions  of  the  enemy. 

The  tone  adopted  by  the  British  ministry  at  the  winter  session  of 
parliament,  ITS  1-2,  gave  no  token  of  any  probable  concessions  to 
the  American  demand."'.  In  the  hou.se  of  commons,  after  repeated 
failures,  a  motion  pas.^ed,  at  the  close  of  February,  calling  for  the 
adoption  of  mea-sures  which  should  put  an  end  to  hostilities.  A 
chaiigc  in  the  cabinet,  at  this  juncture,  favoured  the  projects  of  the 
friends  of  peace.  Negotiations  were  speedily  opened  with  Adam.s, 
the  American  mini.ster:it  Ilollaml,  anil  with  l''raiiklin,  then  in  I''ninc(!, 
for  a  pacific  arrangement.  With  thc.>*o  ministers  were  associated 
John  Jay  of  New  York,  and  Henry  Laurens  of  8outh  Carolina. 
Mr.  Richard  Oswald  conducted  the  preliminary  arrangements  in 
behalf  of  Great  Britain:  Franklin  and  Jay,  in  the  ab.seiiee  of  the 
other  commissioners,  oj)ened  the  negotiation  at  Paris  iu  the  month 
uf  April,  1782. 


THE  AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


311 


Jealousy  of  secret  influence  unf:\voural>le  to  the  interests  of  the 
United  States,  on  the  part  of  the  French  minister,  induced  the 
American  commissioners  to  depart  from  their  instructions  requiring 
that  he  should  take  part  in  their  negotiations,  and  a  provisional 
treaty  was  signed,  without  his  intervention,  at  the  close  of  the  fol- 
lowing autumn.  This  great  delay  resulted  from  the  difficulty  of 
settling  questions  of  boundary,  of  the  privileges  of  fishery  on  the 
northern  coast,  and  of  the  rights  of  tory  refugees.  In  favour  of  the 
latter,  the  American  commissioners  would  agree  to  nothing  farther 
than  a  proposed  recommendation  from  congress  to  the  states,  that 
confiscations  should  cease,  that  restitution  should  be  made  for  former 
seizures,  and  certain  personal  privileges,  as  to  right  of  residence, 
should  bo  conceded.  Tiie  former  customs  relative  to  the  Newfound- 
land fisheries  were  substantially  confirmed;  and,  respecting  bound- 
ary, the  states  retained  their  former  territory,  extending  westward 
to  the  Mississippi,  and  southward  to  latitude  thirty-one — leaving 
Spain  in  possession  of  the  wilderness  at  the  west,  and  of  the  mouth 
of  tlie  great  river.  England  retained  the  Canadas:  t^  vard  the  north- 
west the  extent  of  the  American  claims  remained  st.il  unascerUiincd. 

The  treaty  was  not  made  definitive  until  September  of  the  follow- 
ing year,  its  conclusion  being  contingent  upon  an  establishment  of 
peace  between  Franco  and  Fngland,  by  virtue  of  the  former  treaty 
of  alliance  between  Franco  and  the  United  States.  At  the  first 
opening  of  pacific  negotiation  in  April,  n;inisters  from  all  the  belli- 
gerent nations  of  Europe  had  met  for  the  purpose  of  concluding 
arrangements  for  a  general  peace.  These  were  settled  in  liie  spring 
of  17b3,  and,  upon  the  transmission  of  the  intelligence  to  America, 
a  formal  proelan>ation  was  made  by  congress,  of  a  termination  of 
hostilities. 

Daring  the  spring  of  1782,  an  alarming  disaffection  exhibited 
itself  among  some  jjortioiis  of  tiie  continental  army,  arising  from  an 
nntieipated  failure  m  payment  of  their  a.rearages.  This  feeling  ex- 
tended to  many  of  the  ollicers,  and,  but  for  the  firmness  and  wi^^dom 
of  the  commander-in-chief,  might  have  led  to  lamentable  results. 
The  army  was  disbanded,  by  order  of  congress,  in  the  month  of 
November;  and,  within  a  few  weeks,  an  evacuation  of  Now  York 
and  its  adjacent  strongholds  was  completed  by  the  IJritish. 

On  Christmas  day,  in  the  following  month,  General  Washington 
appeared  before  congress,  in  session  at  Annapolis,  and  tendered  a 
resignation  of  his  commission  us  commander-in-chief. 


iill 


812 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED, 


n'  '■ 


I     1 


The  war  was  now  at  an  end;  the  United  States,  acknowledged 
independent  by  the  nations  of  Europe,  were  free  to  adopt  a  form  of 
government  of  their  own  clioosing,  untrammelled  by  the  restrictions 
of  ancient  customs  or  the  claims  of  hereditary  right.  But  the  posi- 
tion of  the  country,  if  no  longer  critical,  was  embarrassing  in  the 
extreme.  The  burden  of  an  enormous  debt,  the  poverty  consequent 
upon  the  expenditure  of  little  short  of  two  hundred  millions  of 
dollars  in  carrying  on  the  war,  the  failure  of  public  credit,  the  exi.st- 
ence  of  sectional  jealousies,  the  great  territorial  extent  of  the  coun- 
try, the  mixture  of  races — all  combined  to  oppose  obstacles  to  the 
establishment  of  a  new  and  con    !  cated  scheme  of  government. 

Hisiroi>  !?KAi!i:uY. — As  soon  as  pcaeo  wiw  rost(ir»'<l.  the  c^rirjof  Conncvtioiu  s&d  th*"!*© 
of  Nf'.v  Yi)rk  lu'lil  a  privati'  muotiiipr  in  that  city,  and  ••iiow  tin'  Rov.  I>r.  Ix^ami-.ip  bLihop 
of  tlio  iliocoso  of  Connecticut.  Dr.  Leaniinpr  did  not  aoccpt  tlio  place  nssijmed  Jiim  ;  and. 
on  tho  21st  of  Ajiril,  l"t*.'t,  a  second  vote  resulted  in  tlie  i-.iianininits  dioico  of  Dr.  Soa- 
bury.  A  letter  wa.s  innnediately  a<ldre.ssed  to  ilie  aivlibitilni;  of  York,  reiterating  the  old 
reiiticst  that  an  American  bi.shop  might  bi  consecrated.  "Tho  p«>rson,"  Kiy  they,  "whom 
we  have  prev;iiled  (ijion  to  ofTi  r  liiiii«i'lf  t<>  your  jrraeo  is  the  Rov.  Dr.  fNUiiuel  Soabiiry. 
wlio  has  been  tho  80ciety's  worthy  missionary  for  many  years.  Ilo  was  l<vn  and  tdu- 
culrd  in  Conmctinil ;  he  is  every  way  qnalitied  for  the  fpisoijHil  offic,  and  for  the  dischuri^ 
of  those  duties  peeniiar  to  it  in  tlie  pn'senl  trying  and  daiip'rous  times.'' 

The  arelibi.shop  of  York  raising  (tbjeetioiis,  lie  repaired  to  .Sentlaiid,  whyrc,  on  the  14th 
of  November,  l'J84,  tho  ceremonial  took  plaeo  nt  AlM-rilcon,  under  the  direction  of  RoU'rt 
Kilgour,  bisliop  of  Aberdeen,  Primnji,  with  the  assistance  of  .\rthur  IVtrie.  of  Rosjj  and 
Moray,  and  Joliii  Skinner,  coadjutor  of  liwliop  Kiigour.  It  wa.s  an  ociiwion  of  the  dwp- 
est  interest,  and  called  forth  many  warm  congratulations  and  fervent  prayere. 

Thus,  by  the  kindly  aid  of  Seotlaml.  after  a  struggle  of  so  many  year.:,  the  victory  over 
Kiiglish  exclusivenesM  wu«  won.  .ind  Connecticut,  let  us  rather  May  tho  western  world,  had. 
i.t  Inxt,  n  bishop. 

IfastMiing  homeward,  with  n  heart  buoyant  ns  the  wave  that  floated  and  tho  wind  that 
wafteil  iiiin,  Uishoji  Sabury  repaireil  immediately  to  New  L>ndoii,  and.  on  tin-  Ud  of 
August.  \'^'t,  entered  ujioii  the  di.seharge  of  Iii.s  high  at  d  res|>onsible  dutieti.  Nobly  did 
tbiit  great  ami  gmid  man  lay  wiile  nnd  deep  the  walls  that  were  l<i  «itaiii|  around  tin  dio- 
fMiio  of  Connecticut  and  Hhoile  Island.  Itrave  •.villmut  any  ostentatious  nhow  of  ni-->r;d 
oourajj''.  modest  witliout  the  h'ast  abatement  of  seir-|iossession  or  tlnmu'w,  with  nil  tlie 
lody  zeid  of  11  martyr  tomjiered  with  lh>  forbearanee  that  is  the  fruit  only  of  Chri.-ti.iii 
chari'y;  disero<  t  in  counsel,  with  a  hand  (b.it  never  Iremlileij  in  exivulin^  hi*  ri|H.'  pur- 
pos's;  never  itdvaiu'ing  I'msIit  Ih.in  he  could  fortily  his  progress,  Iti.shop  S<>;ibury  bal  no 
KUii''rior.  probably  no  equal,  among  the  episcopal  di(^nltiiries  of  his  pneration. — lt>Jli'ier'$ 
Jlitnnj  of  Counti'iii'ut. 


THE  UNITED  STATES 


\J  H  JX  i     i    Ij  JjI.       jt. 


POSITION'    OP    THE    UNION    AT    THE  CONCLUSION  OP   PEACE— • 

EXISTING   DIPPICUI.TIES  WITH   GREAT  BRITAIN.  —  WKAKNB8.S 

OP   CONGRESS.  —  LOCAL   DISTURBANCES     8HAT'8   REBFLMON. 

CONVENTION  POR  ENLARGING  CONGRESSIONAL  POWERS: 

OPPOSING  INTERESTS  OP  THE  STATES — THE  PRESENT 
CONSTITUTION:    PEDERAL  LEGISLATURE:    POWERS  OP 
CONGRESS:    RESTRICTIONS;    LIMIT  OP  STATE  POW- 
ERS:   THE   EXECUTIVE:    THE   JUDICIARY:    MU- 
TUAL   GUARANTEES:     AMENDMENTS. 


For  several  years  immediately  following  the  establishment  of 
American  iiulependence,  the  aft'airs  of  the  country  remained  in  con- 
fusion, from  the  incapacity  of  congress,  under  the  old  articles  of  con- 
feileration,  to  bind  the  sUUes  by  its  dealings  with  foreign  powers. 
Restrictions  ujion  commerce,  which  the  congress  had  no  power  to 
mitigate  by  treaty,  retarded  the  drvelopment  of  the  national  re- 
Bourees.  The  West  India  trade,  so  lucnuive  l^eforo  the  war,  even 
under  the  old  "sugar  act,"  was  now  cut  ofi.  The  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  was  closed,  by  Spain,  to  all  enirar  .p  or  ogress  of  Amer- 
ican vessels,  leaving  the  growing  settlerr.ont.j  of  the  west  without 
the  means  for  ilisposing  of  their  produce. 

Great  llritaii.  could  hardly  be  ex{K'<  t  •"  to  look  with  favour  U]ioii 
the  confederation,  and  in  detiancc  of  ihc  provisions  of  the  treaty, 
she  maintained  i)OS8es8ion  cf  the  strongholds  on  the  wesfern  lakes. 
The  rea.son  given  for  this  retention,  was  a  non-conij)Iiance,  on  the 
part  of  the  I'nion,  with  provisions  securing  to  I?ritihh  subjects  tiiy 
right  to  reCiA'er  debts  contracted  t»efore  the  war.  Manv  i  linor  points 
of  dispute  also  remained  unsettled.  With  respect  to  the  'ms-^os  suh- 
tamed  by  the  loyaliata,  in  consequence  of  coufiseations,  the  recoin- 


11 


ii  '1 


i( 


"^ 


814 


A  M  E  K I C  A   1 1, 1,  r  S  T  K  A  T  E  D . 


mendation  of  congress  had  as  little  effect  upon  the  action  of  the 
states  in  this  as  in  most  other  particulars.  A  great  number  of  these 
claims  to  indemnity  were  subsequently  examined  and  partially  sat- 
isfied  by  act  of  parliamenc. 

^J'lie  \vcaknt'S3  of  congress  was  made  repeatedly  the  subject  of 
earnest  exhortation  to  the  states  and  the  people.  Unless  its  jKj'.vfra 
could  be  enlarged,  and  a  willingness  be  induced,  on  the  part  of  the 
ptates,  to  abandon  some  portion  of  their  sovereignty  lor  the  sake  of 
greater  centralization  of  power,  there  seemed  but  faint  prospects  of 
future  prosperity.  At  the  commencement  of  the  year  ITSfi,  an  effort 
was  nuulc  to  bring  about  a  convention  from  the  states,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  establishing  a  general  conunercial  system,  but  the  attempt 
loll  through  for  want  of  full  representation.  Those  menjberH  who 
attended,  earnestly  recommended  a  meeting  of  delegates  from  all  the 
states,  to  alter  and  amend  the  articles  of  confederation,  so  as  to  define, 
confirm  and  enlarge  the  jurisdiction  of  the  central  government.  This 
proposal  received  the  sanction  of  congress  in  the  month  of  February 
of  the  following  year. 

If  the  power  of  congress  was  fast  becoming  a  nullity,  since  a 
change  of  circumstances  had  diminished  the  respect  paid  to  its 
decrees  and  recommendations  during  the  dangers  of  actual  war,  the 
state  authorities  exj>erienced  nearly  equal  difficulties  in  carrying  on 
the  necessary  operations  of  government.  The  people  were  in  a  con- 
dition of  gicat  destitution  and  distress.  Scarce  able  to  prov.ure  the 
necessaries  of  life,  they  were  continually  called  upon  to  provide 
fumls  for  public  purj)Oses,  and,  as  these  ^vero  collected  by  direct 
taxation,  the  burden,  if  in  reality  no  greater  than  that  attached  to 
imposts,  was  more  .«K;vcrely  felt  by  the  individual.  Nothingwas  m<-re 
natural  than  that  they  should  attribute  their  sufferi.'ig  and  poverty 
to  nial-adniinistration  of  state  a.Vaii"S,  nor  that  a  popular  erv  shuuM 
he  raised  for  impolitic  c>r  impracticable  schemes  of  amendment. 

In  the  autumn  of  1780,  this  feeling  broke  out  into  open  rebellion 
in  New  IIamp.<4hire  and  Mas8;tchus..'tts.  The  mast  extensive  and 
dangerous  nutbn'ak  occurred  in  the  latter  state.  One  I>anicl  Shav.4, 
who  had  held  office  in  the  contiiK-ntal  army,  headed  the  movcnie:it, 
nnd,  before  any  cfT^etivc  .•«t''|!<  were  taken  to  sup|>ress  it,  collu-t' d 
an  armed  \>r»]y  of  mulcontetitji,  about  u  tliou«uid  in  number.  The 
immedia  ct  appeared  t*)  be  the  contraction  of  the  veMions  of 

the  court*.  A  ;(rrcatly  Kiperior  fon^e  -  .  ilitia  w;i«  called  out,  and 
put  niAur  command  of  General  iiiDcc..*.    The  reUjUk'xi  was  ^uelicd 


THE    UNITED   STATES. 


315 


with  very  little  bloodshed,  and  those  concerned  in  it,  in  accordance 
with  good  policy,  were  treated  with  lenity. 

The  convention,  for  the  purpose  of  remodelling  the  powers  of  con 
grcss,  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  14th  of  May,  1787.  Delegates 
v.cre  present,  or  arrived  soon  after  the  optening  of  the  assembly,  from 
eleven  states,  Uhode  Island  and  Xew  Hampshire  having  alone  neg- 
lected to  make  choice  of  members.  The  number  conmiissioncd  by 
each  state,  was  about  the  same  as  that  of  its  representatives  in 
congress.  Wasliington  was  chosen  president,  on  motion  of  Hobcrt 
Morris — a  distinguished  financier,  to  whom  the  management  of  the 
monetary  afTairs  of  government  had  been  pnncin.dly  entrusted  for 
several  years,  during  the  period  of  greatest  difiicultics,  before  and 
subsequent  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

Among  the  members  of  the  convention,  were  many  who  had 
taken  part  in  most  of  the  great  political  movements  from  t.ie  com- 
mencement of  the  contest  with  EnglamL  Franklin,  Rutledge,  Sher- 
man, Livingston,  Gerry,  and  others  of  the  early  patriots,  were 
present;  the  existing  congress  was  largely  represented;  and  the 
general  character  of  those  asdembled,  was  marked  by  zeal,  earnest- 
ness, and  ability. 

The  proceedings  were  not  made  public  for  a  period  of  more  than 
thirty  years.  It  was  wisely  concluded  that  harmony  of  feeling  would 
be  j)r()m()ted  by  the  promulgation  of  the  results  arrived  at,  unaccom- 
panied by  discussions  it.  which  the  opposing  interests  of  the  dilfercnt 
states  were  set  forth  and  enlarged  upon.  It  was  found  easier  to  pre- 
pare rn  entirely  new  constitution,  than  to  alter  and  amend  the  old 
articles  of  confederation  so  as  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  times. 
Various  |)lans  were  framed  and  rejected,  and  it  was  not  until  the 
mi<ldle  of  September,  that  a  scheme  was  completed  which  the  con- 
vention was  willing  to  send  forth  to  the  people  f  )r  ratilieation. 

The  claims  of  tlie  smaller  states  to  equal  representation  with  the 
larger,  the  commercial  interests  of  the  north  as  opposed  to  those  of 
agriculture  in  the  south,  the  apportionment  of  representatives,  the 
modes  of  election,  tiie  character  of  the  two  proposed  legislative 
boihes,  the  authority  aiu!  duties  of  the  executive,  the  general  liinita- 
,tion  of  congressional  powers,  the  formation  of  a  judiciary  department, 
and  many  minor  detail,',  gave  rise  to  long,  and,  frequently,  to  excited 
debate.  Prominent  ."xmong  the  vexed  questions  of  the  day,  were 
those  growing  out  <^f  a  diflerencj  of  opinion  and  interest  with  respect 
to  (ne  institution  of  slavery.     Uj^n  this  topic,  while  some  northern 


816 


AMEinCA  ILLUSTKATED. 


members — especially  Gouverneur  Morris — inveighed  against  the  sys- 
tem with  extreme  warmth,  those  from  the  southern  stutes  supported 
Its  interests  with  less  heat,  but  greater  determination. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  as  it  at  present  exists,  (with 
the  exception  of  a  few  amendments,  chiefly  relative  to  the  rights  of 
persons,  to  the  manner  of  choosing  president  and  vice-president,  and 
to  the  release  of  the  separate  states  from  liability  to  be  sued  in  the 
federal  courts  by  citizens  of  any  other  state  or  foreign  nation,)  was 
signed  on  the  17ih  of  September,  1787,  by  thirty-eight  members  of 
the  convention,  representing  twelve  of  the  original  states.  New 
Ilampsliire  had  chosen  delegates  during  the  session;  Ilhode  lalarid 
alone  took  no  share  in  the  proceedings. 

By  the  provisions  of  this  instrument,  all  legislation  i."  committed 
to  a  senate  and  house  of  representatives.  The  first  consists  of  two 
members  from  each  state — their  election  to  be  made  by  the  legisla- 
ture. They  are  chosen  for  six  year.^,  but  arc  so  cla^siiiod  that  one- 
third  of  the  whole  number  are  elected  every  second  year.  The 
second  is  composed  of  members  chosen  for  two  years,  by  the  people, 
in  proportion  to  the  population,  (originally  one  for  every  thirty 
thousand,  with  a  provision  securing  to  each  state  at  least  one  repre- 
sentative,) in  computing  which,  three-fifths  <>),'  nil  slaves  are  included. 
The  word  slave  is  avoided  by  circumlocution.  As  an  ollset  to  this 
concession  to  the  slavc-holdiiig  states,  direct  taxes  arc  decreed  to  be 
apportioned  in  the  same  manner. 

Bills,  in  order  to  become  laws,  must  pass  both  houses,  and  reccnvo 
the  signature  of  the  president,  or,  in  case  of  his  refu.sal,  must  be 
reconsidered  and  approved  by  a  two-thirds  vote  in  each  liousc.  Tlie 
house  of  reprcsentiitives  has  the  j^rivilegeof  originaiing  all  revenue 
bills.  Provisions  are  made,  for  an  annual  session  on  the  fir.st  Mon- 
day in  December,  for  the  conduct  of  proceedings,  trial  of  impeach- 
ments, rules  relative  to  adjournment,  discipline  of  mendjcrs,  supply 
of  vacancies,  census  returns,  and  other  details;  aP-or  which  the  gen- 
eral powers  of  the  federal  legi.slature  are  enumerated  substantially 
a.^  follows: 

Congress  is  emp  .  'erer  o  levy  uniform  taxes,  duties,  inijiosts,  and 
exci.ses;  to  regulat»  foreign  commerc",  and  commerce  between  the 
states;  to  coin  mov  •,  and  provide  punishments  for  counterfeiting' 
to  estub'ish  a  post-onioc  system;  to  make  regulations  respecting 
copy-rights  and  patents;  to  create  inferior  federal  courts,  and  j)asa 
laws  for  tho  puniishment  of  oftences  on  the  high  scius;  to  declare  war, 


TUE   UNITED   STATES. 


317 


and  to  raise  and  support  armies  and  a  navy;  to  provide  for  requisi- 
tions upon  the  militia  in  case  of  public  necessity;  to  exercise  juris- 
diction over  the  district  occupied  as  the  seat  of  government;  and, 
generally,  to  })rovide  for  the  common  welfare  and  defence. 

Finally:  "To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper 
for  carrying  into  execution  the  foregoing  powers,  and  all  other  j)ow- 
ers  vested  by  this  constitution  in  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  or  in  any  dei)artinent  or  olhccr  thereof." 

Congress  was  restrained  from  prohibiting  the  importation  of  slaves 
prior  to  the  year  1808.  There  exist,  moreover,  general  restrictions 
forbidding  the  suspension  of  the  privilege  of  habeas  corj^Ufi,  except  in 
times  of  public  danger,  the  passage  of  ex  jwst  /ado  laws,  the  imposi- 
tion of  export  duties,  the  requisition  of  duties,  clearances,  or  entries, 
in  commerce  between  the  states,  the  draught  of  public  funds  except 
to  meet  regular  appropriations,  and  the  grant  of  any  title  of  nobility. 

By  section  X.,  "No  state  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or 
confederation;  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal;  coin  money; 
emit  bills  of  credit;  make  any  thing  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a 
tender  in  payment  of  debts;  pass  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex  jwst  facto 
law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts;  or  grant  any  title 
of  nobility."  The  power  to  levy  imjwsts  is  confined  to  provisions 
of  absoluie  necessity  for  the  execution  of  inspection  laws.  Slates 
are  also  prohibited  from  maintaining  armed  vessels  or  a  standing 
army,  and  from  engaging  in  hostilities,  except  in  eases  of  invasion 
or  imminent  danger. 

The  executive  power  is  vested  in  a  president,  who,  together  with 
a  vice-president,  is  chosen  for  four  years,  by  electors  from  all  the 
states,  equal  in  number  to  the  entire  representation  in  both  houses 
of  congress.  Tliese  electors  meet  in  their  several  states,  and  forward 
returns  of  their  ballotings  to  the  federal  seat  of  government.  The 
votes  for  president  and  vice-president  are  taken  separately.  If  no 
candidate  has  a  majority  of  all  the  electoral  votes,  in  the  case  of 
president,  the  house  of  representatives,  voting  by  slates,  elects  to  that 
oiBce  cue  of  the  three  candidates  who  have  received  the  greatest 
number  of  votes.  On  fivilure  to  elect  a  vice-president,  the  senate 
makes  choice  from  the  two  highest  numbers  on  the  list. 

The  vice-president,  virtnle  officii,  is  president  of  the  senate,  and 
upon  the  death  or  disability  of  the  jirosidcnt,  ho  succeeds  to  his 
duties  and  responsibilities.  In  case  of  farther  lapse,  congress  has 
power  to  declare  upon  what  ofTicer  the  presidency  shall  devolve. 


F 


^r^ 


318 


AMEKICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


The  president  is  commander-in-cliief  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the 
United  States,  including  the  militia,  when  in  service  of  the  Union. 
He  may  grant  reprieves  or  pardons  for  offences  against  the  laws  of 
the  United  States.  With  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  the  senate, 
he  is  empowered  to  make  treaties;  and  all  public  ministers,  judiros 
of  the  supreme  court,  and  other  officials  of  the  United  States,  whose 
appointment  is  not  otherwise  provided  for,  are  chosen  by  the  senate 
ui)on  his  nomination.  He  may  fill  vacancies  in  the  senate,  occurring 
during  recess,  for  one  term  only.  lie  is  generally  charged  with  tlie 
execution  of  the  laws,  the  commission  of  officers,  and  the  reception 
of  foreign  ambassadors. 

The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  is  vested  in  one  supreme 
court,  and  in  courts  established  by  act  of  congress.  The  judges  of 
both  hold  office  during  good  behaviour.  Their  jurisdiction  extends 
to  all  cases  in  law  or  equity  arising  under  the  constitution,  or  the 
laws  of  the  United  States,  &c. ;  to  eases  afl'ccting  foreign  mini.sters; 
to  matters  of  admiralty;  to  eases  where  the  United  States  is  a  party; 
to  controversies  between  different  states,  between  citizens  of  dilferent 
states,  or  those  claiming  under  grants  of  different  states,  and  between 
citizens  and  foreign  states,  citizens  or  subjects.  The  original  juris- 
diction of  the  supreme  court  is  confined  to  cases  aflecting  foreign 
ministers,  and  eases  where  a  state  is  a  party. 

A  republican  government  is  guaranteed  to  each  state,  and  the 
United  States  is  pledged  to  protect  each  of  them  against  invasion 
and  domestic  violence.  Eaeli  state  is  bound  to  give  full  faith  to 
the  public  acts  of  the  others,  and  to  accord  equal  privileges  witli 
its  own  citizens  to  all  citizens  of  the  United  States.  Fugitives  from 
justice  are  to  be  delivered  up,  on  requisition  of  the  executive  of 
the  state  where  the  crime  has  been  committed:  tho.se  "held  to  ser- 
vice or  labour  in  one  state,  under  the  lawrj  thereof,  escaping  into 
another,"  shall  be  restored  "on  claim  of  the  party  to  whom  such 
service  or  labour  may  be  due." 

Amendments  to  the  constitution  arc  to  be  proposed  by  two-tliinls 
of  botli  houses  of  congress,  or  by  a  convention  called  on  application 
of  two-thirds  of  the  .states;  to  be  ratified  by  the  legislatures  of  three- 
fourths  of  the  several  .states,  or  by  conventions  in  tliree-fourths 
thereof,  according  to  the  decision  of  congres.s.  In  conclusion — debt* 
of  the  old  confederation  are  assumed;  the  United  States  constitution 
and  laws  are  declared  supreme;  and  an  oath  to  support  the  constito- 
tion  is  required  of  public  ofiicers,  either  in  the  service  of  the  Unioii 


J 


THE   UNITED   STATES. 


319 


or  of  individual  states.  The  original  establishment  of  the  constitution 
was  contingent  upon  its  ratification  by  nine  states,  upon  which  event 
it  was  to  be  binding  "upon  the  states  so  ratilyiug  the  same." 


Vj   iLJi    Uiii    Jt     iL    oh   iLk      iL    X  * 

HATIPICATION  OP  THE  CONSTITUTION  BY  THE  STATES.  —  WASH- 
INGTON ELKCTKl)  rUliSIDKNT. — TIIM  FIRST  CONGRESS:  PRO- 
VISIONS FOR   REVENUE:   FORMATION  OF  A  CAIUNET:  POWER 
OF    REMOVAL     PROM     OFFICE.  —  WASHINGTON'S     TOUR 
THROUGH     NEW     ENGLAND.  —  SECOND     SESSION    OF 
CONGRESS:      DEBATE     RESPECTING     THE     PUBLIC 
DEBT:   FOREIGN   LIABILITIES:   PU  B  LI  C  CERTI  FI- 
CATES;     ASSUMPTION    OF   STATE    DEBTS:     THE 
PUBLIC    DEBT    FUNDED:     MISCELLANEOUS 
ENACTMENTS. — CO  NSTITUTION   RATI- 
FIED BY  RHODE  ISLIND. 

The  new  constitution,  upon  its  reference  by  congress  to  conven- 
tions of  the  separate  stutoi',  gave  ri.se  to  groat  discussion  and  dispute. 
Two  political  parties  were  formed,  taking  i.s.suc  upon  the  subject  of 
its  adoption;  those  in  favour  of  the  measure  received  the  title  of 
federalisLs.  llowever  great  might  be  the  disapproval  of  some  of  the 
details  of  the  new  system,  by  individual  states,  sections  or  parties, 
it  was  altogether  outweighed  by  a  perception  of  its  general  import- 
ance. This  is  sufliciently  manifest  from  the  circumstance  that  it 
received  unconditional  ratilication  in  eleven  states  before  the  cl<Kse 
of  the  following  summer.  North  Carolina  appended  conditions  to  an 
acceptance;  and  I'hodc  Island,  as  she  had  taken  no  share  in  the 
constitutional  convention,  still  continued  recusant. 

Upon  a  meeting  of  the  presidential  electors,  George  Washington 
was  unanimously  elected  first  president  of  the  United  Statos.  In 
accordance  with  tlie  original  provisions  of  the  constitution,  the  recip- 
ient of  the  next  highest  number  of  votes,  John  Adams,  was  elected 
to  the  ofl'ice  of  vicc-j)rosident. 

Some  delay  occurring  in  the  arrival  of  a  quorum  of  members  to 
the  first  congress  (the  city  of  New  York  being  the  place  of  session), 
Vol.  IV —49 


rn 


820 


AMEKIOA   ILLUSTRATE  •'. 


! 


the  president  was  not  inaiicrnratecl  until  the  30th  of  April,  1789: 
the  fourth  of  the  month  precetling  had  been  appointed  for  this  pur- 
pose. In  tlie  full  flusli  of  success  and  popularity,  with  oil  eyes  turnel 
upon  liim  as  the  man  whose  firmness  and  political  ntrgrity  fitted 
him  no  less  for  civil  ofTice  than  for  military  command,  he  felt  great 
reluctance  at  entering  upon  this  new  s|)here  of  duties. 

Immediately  upon  organization  of  congress,  the  VtBiness  of  provi- 
sion for  tlie  expenses  of  government,  and  for  the  payment  or  funding 
of  the  public  debt,  was  opened.  It  was  readily  perceived  tliat  tlie 
most  available  method  of  raising  revenue  was  by  the  imposition  of 
customs  upon  iinportaiions,  A  tonnage  duty  upon  foreign  vessels 
was  at  the  same  time  proposed  and  carried,  not  without  great  oppo- 
sition from  the  purely  agricultural  states,  who  were  jealous  of  a  pro- 
vi^ion  which  would  tlirectly  protect  and  encourage  the  interests  of 
the  commercial  portion  of  the  Union,  at  the  same  time  producing,  as 
they  conceived,  an  injurious  eflect  upon  the  price  of  freights.  An 
attempt  to  draw  a  distinction  between  those  European  nations  who 
had  previously  entered  into  commercial  arrangements  with  the 
United  .States,  and  tliose  wlio  had  refused  so  to  do,  by  extending 
superior  })rivileges  to  the  commerce  of  th'i  former,  was  approved  in 
the  house,  but  defeated  in  the  senate. 

The  operations  of  government  were  next  systematized  Lv  the  reg- 
ular organization  of  distinct  departments  for  the  management  of  the 
trea-sury,  cf  state  allairs,  foreign  and  domestic,  and  of  war;  an 
arranpe;7ieiit  analagous  to  the  regular  European  cabinet  .«ystem.  The 
fir;  t  incujibcnts  of  these  offices  were  Alexander  Hamilton,  Thomas 
Jefierso'i,  and  General  Henry  Knox.  John  Ja}',  Franklin's  former 
colleague  in  diplomacy  at  the  French  court,  was  cho.sen  chief-justiee. 
An  importuiit.  prerogative,  upon  a  point  in  re.spect  to  which  the  con- 
Btiiution  was  siicnt,  after  much  debate,  was  secured  to  the  president. 
This  consisted  in  the  power  to  remove  from  office,  without  action  of 
the  senate,  either  of  the  heads  of  department,  and  other  ofllciuli 
whose  ai)pointment  was  by  presidential  nomination. 

Upon  the  adjoummect  of  congress,  towards  the  close  of  Sej>tember, 
the  president  undertook  an  excursion  through  the  New  Enghmd 
states.  It  is  said  that  wlien  he  first  forsook  tlie  retirement  of  private 
life  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his  ofTice,  his  "progress  from  his  seat 
of  Mount  Vernon  to  Philadelphia  was  a  triumphant  procession,  such 
as  few  conquerors  have  known."  Throughout  this  !iorthern  tour  the 
popular  expression  of  admiration  and  gratitude  was  carried  to  an 


I! 


I  5 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


821 


extent  still  greater.  This  enthusiastic  reception  must  have  been  the 
more  grateful  to  Washington  from  the  con:-ciousncss  that  it  was  sim« 
ply  a  tribute  to  the  acknowledged  worth  of  his  character  and  the 
value  of  his  public  services,  lie  had  never  mingled  with  the  people 
upon  terms  of  familiarity:  of  a  reserved  and  dignified  demeanour, 
be  had  never  courted  popularity  by  any  of  the  arts  of  a  demagogue, 
nor  was  he  gifted  with  that  versatility  which  has  enabled  other  great 
mtn  to  secure  unbounded  personal  attachment  by  accommodating 
themselves  to  every  class  of  people  into  whose  society  they  might 
be  thrown. 

The  second  session  of  congress  was  held  in  the  month  of  January, 
ITl'O.  During  the  recess,  North  '^'arolina  had  ratified  the  fctlcral 
constitution,  and,  in  common  v.  -u  the  other  states,  had  ceded  to  the 
Union  her  claims  upon  a  gre  "nt  of  western  territory 

The  secretary  of  the  treasui  Hamilton,  on  the  opening  of 

congress,  made  a  written  report  u^ion  the  state  of  the  public  debt. 
Long  and  vehement  discussions  ensued,  and  the  subject  was  from 
time  to  time  postponed  and  resumed  throughout  a  period  of  six 
months.  Little  opposition  was  made  to  provisions  for  the  full  pay- 
ment of  foreign  debts,  amounting  to  about  twelve  millions  of  dollars; 
but  when  the  questions  arose  respecting  the  funding  of  tho  deprcci* 
ated  certificates  of  debt  held  against  the  federal  government,  and  the 
assum[)tion  of  liabilities  incurred  by  the  separate  states  in  carrying 
on  the  war,  a  vast  variety  of  opinion  was  found  to  exist. 

A  large  party  was  opposed  to  the  redemption  of  the  public  securi- 
ties at  a  rate  above  their  marketable  value,  being  what  the  holders 
had,  for  the  most  part,  paid  for  them,  and  which  was  now  less  than 
one-sixth  of  tlieir  nominal  value.  The  principal  expenses  of  the 
war  had  been  defrayed  by  the  issue  of  paper  money  to  the  amount 
of  two  hundred  millions,  or  thereabout,  and  the  suksequent  redemp- 
tion of  the  major  portion  of  it,  at  the  rate  of  forty  for  one.  It  was 
claimed  that  ihc  speculators  who  now  claimed  b}'  public  certificates 
deserved  no  better  terms  than  those  who  held  the  old  continental 
currency,  originally  forced  upon  its  holdens  by  penal  enactments. 

The  iilea  was  also  enlarged  upon  that  the  existence  of  a  great 
funded  debt  would  render  the  central  government  too  powerful  for 
the  interests  and  sovereignty  of  the  states,  by  making  its  supj)ort  a 
matter  of  pecuniary  interest  to  so  large  a  portion  of  the  population. 
The  party  styling  itself  republican,  in  opposition  to  the  federalists, 
strongly  maintained  this  ground  of  objection.     The  same  argument 


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522 


AMEEICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


was  urged  against  the  assumption  of  state  debts.  This  clause  of  the 
proposed  financial  arrangement  was  rejected  upon  the  first  trial  in 
the  house,  but  was  afterwards  carried,  as  we  are  led  to  believe,  by  a 
somewhat  corrupt  political  bargain.  The  votes  of  two  members 
were  changed  by  a  promised  arrangement  respecting  the  location  of 
the  future  seat  of  government,  which  was  fixed  for  ten  years  at  Phil- 
adelphia, and  thenceforth  at  some  spot  upon  the  Potomac — arrange- 
ments to  be  made  by  the  president  for  a  commission  to  decide  upon 
the  precise  spot. 

According  to  the  bill,  as  formerly  enacted,  a  loan  was  to  be  effected 
for  the  payment  of  the  foreign  debt  in  full ;  the  domestic  debt  was 
to  be  funded  by  the  receipt  of  subscriptions  in  certificates  at  their 
nominal  value,  and  in  old  Continental  bills  at  the  rate  of  one  hun- 
dred for  one  !  Certificates  for  arrearages  of  interest  were  to  be  re- 
newed by  others  bearing  three  per  cent,  interest;  those  for  the 
principal  being  entitled  to  six  per  cent.  The  debts  of  the  individual 
states  were  specifically  assumed,  to  the  amount  of  twenty-one  millions 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars;  for  which  a  loan  was  to  be  opened, 
receivable  in  state  certificates  for  debts  incurred  to  meet  the  expenses 
of  the  war,  or  directly  issued  for  services  during  hostilities. 

In  pursuance  of  constitutional  provisions,  congress,  at  this  session, 
passed  laws  regulating  the  naturalization  of  foreigners,  the  grant  of 
patents  aijd  copy-rights,  the  duties  and  privileges  of  seamen,  and  the 
manner  of  trading  and  negotiating  with  the.  Indian  tribes.  Provi- 
sions were  also  made  for  establishing  regular  diplomatic  intercourse 
with  foreign  nations.  Various  crimes  against  the  United  States  were 
defined,  and  punishments  afiixcd  to  their  commission.  A  small 
standing  army  was  organized,  and  specific  appropriations  were  made 
to  meet  all  necessary  civil  and  military  expenses  of  the  current  year. 

In  the  month  of  May,  Rhode  Island  had  finally  ratified  the  consti- 
tution, and  representatives  from  tJiat  state  took  their  scats  in  congress 
during  the  session. 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


823 


uJuiin>ar<tjLj<u     Ixii; 


INDIAX   NEGOTIATIONS:    THE   CREEKS:    THE    NORTII-WESTEHH 

TRIBES,  —  HARMAR'S     UNSUCCESSFUL     CAMPAIGN.  —  THIRD 

SESSION   OF   CONGRESS:    THE   EXCISE    LAW;    A    NATIONAL 

BANK. SETTLEMENT   OF    KENTUCKY:    ITS    ADMISSION 

TO  THE  UNION, ADMISSION  Oi;'  VERMONT. — SITE  OP 

THE     FEDERAL     CAPITOL.  —  THE     NORTH-WESl- 

ERN     INDIANS:     ST.      CLAIR'S     EXPEDITION: 

HIS     DISASTROUS     DEFEAT. — POLITICAL 

PARTIES. —  THE  CENSUS. 


Early  attempts  were  made,  under  authority  of  the  federal  gov- 
ernment, to  effect  amicable  arrangements  with  the  great  Indian  tribes 
of  the  west  and  south,  by  which  the  continued  disputes  between  them 
and  the  frontiei»  settlers  might  be  set  at  rest.  Friendly  relations  were 
established  with  the  Creeks;  their  principal  chief,  M'Gillivray,  a  hulf- 
breed,  w^ith  several  of  his  tribe,  was  escorted  to  New  York,  the 
temporary  capital,  for  the  purpose  of  concluding  terms  of  treaty. 
The  president  held  a  personal  conference  with  these  wild  warriors, 
who  de}iarted  highly  sa^isflei  widi  presents,  promised  annuitie.-^,  and 
guaranties  of  possession  in  their  lands.  Tlie  concessions  accorded  to 
the  Indians  by  this  arrangement  gave  great  dissatisfaction  to  some  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Georgia. 

AVith  tlic  north-western  tribes  no  arrangements  could  be  made. 
Stimulated  by  British  agents,  they  claimed  exclusive  riglit  to  all 
their  old  territories  north  of  the  Ohio.  They  stilh  retained  former 
feelings  of  liostility,  and  cherished  hopes  of  revenge  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  towns  on  the  Miami,  Old  and  New  Chilicothe,  Pec^awuy, 
Willis'  Towns,  kc,  laid  waste  by  an  expedition  under  General  Clarke 
nine  years  previous.  In  the  autumn  of  1700,  more  than  a  thousantl 
men,  under  General  Ilarmar,  were  di.>^patehed  upon  an  Indian  cam- 
paign in  the  north-western  territory.  In  every  skirmish  with  tlic 
natives,  the  hitler  had  the  advantage  ironi  their  superior  knowleilgo 
of  the  country.  They  avoided  any  general  engagement,  but,  by 
laying  ambuscades  for  detached  partie.^J,  succeeded  in  cutting  o(l'  a 
large  number  of  the  whites.    The  expedition  was  signally  unsuccessful. 

At  the  *hird  session  of  congrcs.s,  in  December,  171)1,  one  of  the 


■V. 


324 


AMERICA  iLLUSTEATED. 


i 


earliest  subjects  of  debate  was  a  proposition  to  increase  the  revenue 
by  additional  duties  upon  spirituous  liquor.?,  and  by  tlie  establish- 
ment of  an  excise  upon  those  of  domestic  manufacture.  A  bill  for 
this  purpose  finally  passed — not  without  very  violent  opposition. 
Another,  and  more  important  source  of  contention,  was  the  institution 
of  a  national  bank.  This  was  strenuously  opposed,  both  upon 
grounds  of  public  policy,  and  the  alleged  defect  of  constitutional 
power  in  congress  for  the  organization  of  such  an  establishment. 
The  measure  was  carried,  in  spite  of  all  opposition:  a  bank  was 
chartered,  with  a  cajiital  of  ten  millions  of  dollars,  one-fifth  of  which 
was  to  be  subscribed  for  by  the  United  States.  Private  stockholders 
had  the  privilege  of  paying  three-fourths  of  their  subscriptions  in 
United  States'  stocks. 

The  only  further  proceedings  of  importance  during  the  session, 
were  the  adoption  of  resolutions  for  an  increase  of  the  army,  in 
anticipation  of  an  Indian  war,  and  the  admission  of  two  new  states 
into  the  Union.  The  settlement  of  Kentuckv  had  been  commenced, 
not  long  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  revolutionary  war,  by  the 
bold  and  enterprising  pioneer,  Daniel  Boone,  who,  with  a  few  asso- 
ciates, allured  by  the  fertility  and  beauty  of  the  country,  had  ven- 
tured to  brave  the  dangers  of  an  isolated  position  in  the  remote 
wilderness.  Indian  traders,  in  early  times,  reported  of  this  country, 
that  "No  Indians  dwelt  there,  but  the  various  tribes  made  it  their 
hunting-ground,  and  in  their  encounters,  waged  such  fierce  and 
desperate  battles,  that  the  whole  region  was  known  among  them  by 
the  name  of  'The  Dark  and  Bloody  Ground.'"' 

Kentucky  had  increased  so  fast  in  population,  that  it  was  judged 
expedient,  both  by  the  inhabitants  and  by  the  legislature  of  \''ir- 
ginia,  in  the  territory  of  which  state  it  was  included,  that  llie 
former  should  be  set  olF  as  a  sepa/ate  state.  A  convention,  culled 
f  )r  the  consideration  of  the  cpiestior,  had  fixed  upon  the  1st  of  June. 
1702,  as  the  period  for  the  commenctment  of  the  now  organization, 
contingent  upon  the  action  of  con-  The  assent  of  the  latter  was 

given,  prospectively. 

r>etween  Vermont  and  Xcw  York,  a  contention  of  some  standing 
had  existed.  The  latter  claimed  jurisdiction  over  the  former,  as 
included  within  her  own  territory;  Vermont  resisted,  and  organized 
a  separate  government.  An  accommodation  was  efiocted  at  the 
time  of  which  we  are  now  speaking,  and  Vermont  was  admitted  as 
a  new  state  on  the  ISth  of  Februarj'  (1791). 


THE  UNITED   STATES. 


325 


The  president,  in  the  course  of  the  spring,  made  an  excursion 
Inrough  some  of  the  southern  states,  and,  on  his  route,  made  selection 
— in  accordance  with  provisions  before  mentioned — of  a  site  for  the 
federal  capital.  A  city  was  laid  out,  for  this  purpose,  upon  a  grand 
scale,  and  much  speculative  enterprise  was  displayed  in  the  purchase 
of  lands  and  erection  of  buildings.  The  increase  of  the  city,  and, 
consequently,  of  the  value  of  property  within  its  extensive  limits, 
have  fallen  far  short  of  the  sanguine  expectations  of  its  founders. 
Great  commercial  facilities  can  alone  build  up  large  cities  in  a 
new  country. 

During  the  summer  of  this  year,  several  attempts  were  made  to 
check  the  depredations  of  the  Indians  on  the  Ohio,  but  nothing  w'as 
accompli.-?hed  further  than  the  destruction  of  a  few  villages  and  corn- 
fields. Expeditions  on  so  small  a  scale  only  served  to  irritate  the 
savages,  and  to  render  the  condition  of  the  frontier  more  unsafe. 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  Iroquois  retired  into  Canada,  where  lands  were  appro- 
priated to  their  use  on  Grand  river;  those  remaining  within  the 
limits  of  the  United  States,  by  solemn  treaty,  at  Fort  Stanwix,  ceded 
their  claims  in  eastern  New  York.  The  noted  Seneca  chief  and 
orator,  Red-Jacket,  strenuously  opposed  this  treaty,  but  was  over- 
ruled by  the  influence  of  his  superior  in  age  and  authority,  O'Bail, 
or  Corn-Planter.  The  Six  Nations  continued  iii  communication 
with  the  wc'tern  tribes,  and  were  generally  inimical  to  the  Amer- 
ican settlers. 

In  the  autumn  of  1791,  General  Arthur  St.  Clair,  Avith  more  than 
two  thousand  men,  marched  from  Fort  Washington,  the  site  of  the 
present  city  of  Cincinnati,  into  the  Indian  territory.  Having  estab- 
lished and  garrisoned  two  forts,  on  his  route,  he  encamped  fifteen 
miles  from  the  Indian  towns,  on  the  ^Miami,  on  the  3d  of  November. 
The  movements  of  the  army  had  been  slow,  and  the  confederate 
tribes  of  the  west — Ilurons,  Potawatomies,  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Mia- 
mies,  Delawares,  Shawances,  Iroquois,  and  others — under  the  guid- 
ance of  Micbikinaqua  (Little  Turtle),  and,  as  is  supposed,  of  Josci>h 
Brant,  liad  full  opportunity  to  collect  their  warriors  and  form  their 
plans  for  defence. 

"Before  the  rising  of  the  sun,  on  the  following  day  (November 
4th),  the  savages  fell  upon  the  camp  of  the  whites.  Never  was  a 
more  decisive  victory  obtained.  In  vain  <lid  the  American  general 
and  his  oQiec-rs  exert  themselves  to  maintain  order,  and  to  rally  the 


826 


AMERICA  ILLUSTKATED. 


bewildered  troops.  The  Indians,  firing  from  covert,  thinned  the 
ranks,  and  picked  off  the  officers  by  a  continuous  and  murderous 
discharge.  A  disorderly  retreat  was  the  result:  artillery,  baggage, 
and  no  small  portion  of  the  arms  of  the  militia,  fell  into  tne  hands  of 
the  exultant  pursuers.  Fort  Jefferson  was  nearly  thirty  miles  dis- 
tant, and  thither  the  defeated  army  directed  its  flight.  The  Indians 
followed  close  upon  the  fugitives,  cutting  down  and  destroying  at 
will,  until,  as  is  reported,  one  of  their  chiefs  called  out  to  them  'to 
stop,  as  they  had  killed  enough.' 

"The  temptation  offered  by  the  plunde'r  to  be  obtained  at  the 
camp,  induced  the  Indians  to  return,  and  tlfe  remnant  of  the  invading 
army  reached  Fort  Jefferson  about  sun-set.  The  loss,  in  this  battle, 
on  the  part  of  the  whites,  was  no  less  than  eight  hundred  and  ninety- 
four  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Thirty-eight  officers  and  five 
hundred  and  ninety-three  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  were 
slain  or  missing.  The  Indians  lost  but  few  of  their  men — judging 
from  a  comparison  of  the  different  accounts,  not  much  over  fifty."* 

Upon  the  coming  together  of  congress,  in  October  of  1791,  the 
condition  of  Indian  affairs  was  brought  before  that  body,  and  repre- 
sentations of  the  necessity  for  an  increase  in  the  army  were  urged 
Party  spirit,  at  this  time,  was  growing  more  virulent;  the  republicans, 
at  the  head  of  whom  stood  Secretary  Jefferson,  eyed  the  movements 
of  the  federalists  with  great  suspicion,  continually  discovering  or 
imagining  a  tendency  towards  a  monarchical  system  in  all  their 
plans  and  opera.lons.  Of  Hamilton,  secretary  of  the  treasury,  and 
leader  of  the  federal  party,  an  English  writer  observes:  "Each  stop, 
indeed,  which  this  minister  took,  seemed  in  the  traces  of  British 
policy;  and,  however  salutary  or  requisite  they  may  have  been,  he 
certainly  showed  little  caution  in  the  manner  of  adopting,  succes.s- 
ively,  the  several  parts  of  machinery  belonging  to  a  monarchical 
government" 

A  strong  effort  was  made  at  this  session,  to  increase  the  number 
of  members  in  the  house  of  representative.",  by  including  in  tlie 
computation  of  population  the  fractional  remainder  which  existed  in 
each  state  after  a  division  by  thirty  thou.sand.  Tlic  bill  passed  both 
houses,  but,  b'^ing  sent  back  with  objections,  by  the  president,  was 
reconsidered  and  lost.  The  census  returns  of  the  first  enumeration 
of  the  population,  exliibited  a  total  of  3,921,320,  of  which  nearly 
Bcven  hundred  thousand  were  slaves. 

•  Indian  Races  of  America. 


I  f  ■ 


tt 


82fi 


AMEEICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


I.., ri »:.  <*, 


a'S,  ■firinf'  from  vovcrt,  ilii   itt   t,!'" 

•-:^«W  ^  a  continuous  uivi  niar.'!  rous 

■IT  tbe  result:  ;\rtilicrv,  b.-i:' ;;>fTe, 

■  >  iiv-      "^v-'"-  niilitia,  fi;j!  intotne  Tuai'?  ^! 

Hw    '^-j    ••  ^\-it6  neai'ly  thirfy  mik"*    i.- 

.  ■■  ';■'!•  vLur  ui«s  d^^mttii::  :.^0'^.       -;**»!  its  fiif'ht.     The  Ti  ■.'  -i- 

'  i  .liose  upoB  the  fiTgitii'f;.  teii|l^%.  flown  •fttsd- destroy  in      .r 

•     ;iuii,  ns  is  reported,  oae  bf  iii'r^t.  -^i'.';*^  <.'ili21eE  out  to  them  •'.<> 

•.,•     (s  tiicy  had.kfjled  endtigli/-  «     ."''. 

■  i'- ■;   U'Tiij^tatioii  offcrt'cl  by  tho  pluj-.k'r  lb  '''■»  obtsJ  '■'•'"  at  th;;- 

■>.ui    ni'Uiced  the  Indiana  co  ret^i/n,  and  t^e  reittnant  or  thv  invadinr: 

'irrv;  reached  Fort  JetTerson  ahout  sun-set.     The  loss,  in  this  batt|f^ 

>:l  t)ie  part  of  tin;  'vhit<j8,  was  no  less  than  eight  bundred  and  ninety- 

<'»nr  in  idUed.-  w  >'i4aded,'and  missJiirr,     Thifty-jjight  oniocns  nnd  five 

;•      '.'.-J  .v,-v)     •"-  •■  JV'iJ  nott'fef>ramiHsioned6ffit''r.-!ftnd privates n-r'!--' 

<#S;- •  *  turn.   '"  kift  bui.  fdw  ot  ibeir  fueii--jndgi!',' 

'  '•     »  --.n  ■'  ■'^y'f'ts,  viCrt  flanch  over  Jlfty."* 

J  :ft^    r  %  O-tober  of  1791,  111'* 

?e!!t;itiouf)  oi  .tu«  ijt'c<*!i3i4,^  iw;    ^     a  ■.'ed 

i':.irty  6;>'->*.  «' *n'?  time,  v':i3  p'owi'i::  til    ■    ....     r^, . 
-;f  iiie  )i      '  »'i  suxi»;.  .*--e<g!retft(y  JetF-r.'OB  -f^-'  • 

of  the  fed^Tftlisi  |"..«l*?sttte*[,.ti<m,  .-xij.tiRU;. 

iniagining'a-terideney  tonards  a  in>iiftidbi<:^'  iftfei*- 
plans  nnd  optratiotfa.  Of  Hamilton,  socretaiy  of  liir 
J-ader  of  lUe  tfed'rsil  party,  an  Enefish  wiiter  obsennes:  ''Each  t^tc; 
itiuectl,  w'hioh  .ids  minify' PJ  took,  seemed  in  tho  tra&  s  of  WnWs 
•^olicy;  .irid,  hoAs.gver^&iiuUuy  or  requisite  tlicy  may  have  Ic-.-n.  : 
••:ain!y  showed  litfle  cautio  s  ir.  theruaanorof  adopting,  BUfo 

:,  t  >  increase  the  numV--  '- 

.,,..  .utiives,  hf  including  in  »^t; 

,c'  traoliofial  vemaiudtT  which  exist    i   n 

i  tHima^  byJhiftylitau&arid.,  >Q'hp  bill  paaetHl   »>!;. 

uudc''#ith  IIS,  by  tlie  preanienf.,  ?.•;■■ - 

•1^ e«8iBiME8Cani'<[  of  the  iirst  eaiwieri 

-  vj  A  total  of  5^21,«26,  of  wh;  h       iriv 


jvome'ii 

,^l   tiu- 
.;    ,  ai- 


ntltk.  ^^>ntiiR$4i||*  SOLonarchii 


-»   ^^ 


nV,  iii.-i'.i'-iaJ  a  lid  i^ 


'.■1       i!lf      iHlj) 


wlKlion, 


en  f: ivid.'ed  thoii8art'^~  «*«£«  slaves.        'V"  ■■ 
•  Imilan  Races  of  America. 


~  1 


:  •-  I    tiie 
.i.r.','  vous 

liriii''s  !'! 
nik'«    "li- 
^  II.'-"  ;ri.- 
royiii       t 

thfim  Mi- 

'•^   f\t  tb;' 
invadinf- 
■lis  batt]p 
id  ninfty- 
?  ?ind  fiv^ 
rates  n-or'-> 
— judglTi  : 
r-fifty."* 
1791.  ti..' 
\nd  re]^lc■ 
■  •«-  arj-'v-d 

iovt»mcn; 

,g  <• 

;n.  '. 
Mvirchii  '^ 

num! .  '• 

•:r  in  ♦'!(' 


r  I 


.iTt' 


THE    UNITED   STATES. 


827 


CEAPTEH    I?. 


WASHIKOTON'S  SECOND  TERM:    HIS  DISINCLINATION  TO  OPFICE 
— THE   FRENCH    REVOLUTION:     ITS   POLITICAL    INFLUENCE 
IN   THE   UNITED   STATES.  —  ARRIVAL   OF   GENET,    AS   MIN- 
ISTER  OF   THE   FRENCH    REPUBLIC:   HIS   PROCEEDINGS   AT 
CHARLESTON.  —  NEUTRAL  POSITION    OF   THE   UNITED 

STATES. COIIIIERCIAL   RESTRICTIONS  BY  FRANCE 

AND   ENGLAND.  —  IMPRESSMENT   OF   AMERICAN 

SEAMEN.  —  RETIREMENT    OP    JEFFERSON. — 

ALGERINE     DEPREDATIONS. 


At  the  election  of  president  and  vice-president,  for  the  term  coni- 
niencing  in  March,  1793,  Washington  was  reelected  without  a  shadow 
of  opposition.  lie  felt  great  disinclination  to  continue  longer  in 
office,  and  only  consented  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  the  electors 
and  the  people,  for  the  purpose  of  calming  the  turbulence  of  the 
great  political  parties.  Ilis  high  character  and  popularity  could 
not  shield  him  entirely  from  the  animadversions  of  those  of  the 
republican  party  who  suspected  him  of  aristocratic  predilections.  It 
is  said  that,  on  one  occasion,  subsequent  to  his  reelection,  in  an  out- 
break of  feeling,  excited  by  some  personal  attack,  he  declared,  "that 
he  had  never  repented  but  once  the  having  slipped  the  moment  of 
resigning  his  office,  and  that  was  every  moment  since;  that  by  God 
he  had  rather  be  in  his  grave  than  in  his  present  situation;  that  he 
had  rather  be  on  his  farm  than  be  made  emperor  of  the  world ;  and 
yet  that  they  were  charging  him  with  wanting  to  be  a  king." 

In  opposition  to  Adams,  the  candidate  for  vice-president,  the 
republicans  set  np  George  Clinton:  the  federalists  obtained  the 
larger  vote.  This  defeat  aggravated  the  rancour  of  some  of  the 
leading  liberals,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  the  influence  of  the 
president  could  calm  unseemly  strife  between  the  opposing  heads  of 
departments. 

At  this  period,  a  new  and  important  element  in  the  political  con- 
troversy of  America,  arose  from  a  difference  in  feeling  and  sympathy 
excited  by  the  stormy  events  of  the  French  revolution.  It  became 
a  matter  of  deep  interest  to  inquire  how  far  the  United  States  should 


828 


AMEKICA   ILLUSTEATED. 


I 


allow  themselves  to  be  implicated  in  the  general  agitation  which 
threatened  Europe.  One  of  the  first  questions  to  be  decided  was, 
what  force  did  a  treaty,  concluded  with  the  king  of  France,  possess 
upon  tlie  overthrow  of  his  government,  and  under  the  rule  of  the 
republic.  Popular  enthusiasm  was  strongly  aroused  in  favour  of 
the  revolution,  a  feeling  not  to  be  ell'ectually  damped  by  intelligence 
of  the  blood-thirsty  fanaticism  which  v\'as  exhibited  by  too  many  of 
Its  supporters. 

The  arrival  at  Charleston  (in  the  month  of  April,  1793)  of  Genet, 
the  first  ambassador  commissioned  by  the  republic  to  negotiate  with 
the  United  States,  rendered  some  decisive  action  imperative.  After 
consultation  with  the  cabinet,  in  which  views  diametrically  opposite 
were  entertained  by  the  leaders  of  the  opposite  parties,  the  president 
issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality,  expressly  forbidding  citizens 
of  the  United  States  to  fit  out  vessels  for  the  purpose  of  lend- 
ing aid  to  either  of  the  belligerent  nations,  or  in  any  other  manner 
to  take  share  in  hostilities  so  long  as  this  neutral  position  should  be 
maintained. 

The  French  minister  was  enthusiastically  received  at  Charleston, 
where  he  spent  some  time  in  the  preparation  of  two  cruisers,  to  the 
commanders  of  which  he  filled  out  commissions,  under  authority  of 
the  republic,  to  prey  upon  British  commerce.  After  this  high- 
handed proceeding,  Genet  travelled  by  land  to  Philadelphia,  wel- 
comed at  every  town,  on  his  passage,  by  the  most  flattering  exhibition 
of  popular  feeling.  His  conduct  at  Charleston,  after  a  cabinet 
consultation,  was  declared  illegal  by  government;  the  service  of 
American  citizens,  under  French  commissions,  was  pronounced  a 
public  offence;  and  restitution  was  ordered  of  prizes  taken  in  Amer- 
ican waters. 

So  far  was  the  French  minister  encouraged  by  the  sympathy  of 
the  powerful  republican  party,  that,  in  many  instances,  he  set  at 
nought  the  claims  and  decisions  distinctly  made  by  the  American 
government.  Ilis  reception  by  the  president  was  courteous,  but  the 
avowed  neutrality  of  the  United  States  was  carefully  guarded  in  all 
diplomatic  intercourse.  Disinclination  to  break  with  an  old  and 
powerful  ally,  the  force  of  national  antipathies  and  predilections,  and 
the  influence  of  the  popular  feeling,  checked  that  exertion  of  execu- 
tive power  which  the  occasion  seemed  to  require.  Privateers  were 
fitted  out  at  various  ports  in  the  United  States;  numerous  prizes 
were  brought  in  023enly,  and  condemned  by  the  decisions  of  the 


THE   UNITED   STATES, 


329 


Frencli  consuls,  acting  under  powers  granted  by  Genctj  on  belialf 
of  his  own  government. 

In  one  case,  a  British  vessel,  the  Little  Sarah,  seized  by  the 
French  frigate  in  which  Genet  liad  first  come  over  from  France,  was 
fitted  out  as  a  privateer  at  Philadelphia,  and,  after  being  recliristened, 
tJie  Little  Democrat,  proceeded  to  sea,  notwithstanding  a  promise, 
virtual  or  expressed,  on  the  part  of  that  minister,  thiit  she  should 
remain  until  the  claims  of  those  interested  in  the  vessel  could  bo 
adjusted. 

The  government  moderately,  but  firmly,  persisted  in  maintaining 
»  a  neutral  position,  and  in  respecting  the  rights  of  Great  Britain. 
Toward  the  close  of  the  summer,  guaranty  of  indemnity  was  formally 
announced  for  all  losses  by  British  owners  from  previous  illegal 
seizures  within  the  waters  of  the  United  States,  the  distance  thence- 
forth protected  being  fixed  at  one  league  from  shore,  and  including, 
of  course,  all  bays  and  harbours  within  the  federal  jurisdiction. 
The  French  government,  at  the  same  time,  was  required  to  give  up 
all  prizes  already  illegally  taken,  and  a  direct  requisiti'^.a  was  made 
for  a  recall  of  the  arrogant  Genet. 

The  violence  and  insolence  of  this  official  had  greatly  diminished 
the  popular  fiivour  whicli  greeted  him  on  his  first  arrival.  The 
wiser  and  more  far-sighted  politicians  looked  upon  him  as  a  danger- 
ous man;  his  course  of  conduct  tended  to  involve  the  states  in 
unnecessary  difficulties  with  England;  and  he  was,  undoubtedly, 
engaged  in  machinations  for  the  organization  of  expeditions  against 
the  Spanish  possessions  in  Louisiana  and  Florida.  Any  movement 
towards  the  effecting  of  a  free  exit  from  the  Mississippi  met  with 
great  favour  from  the  settlers  on  the  western  waters. 

To  add  to  other  difficulties  in  maintaining  a  position  of  neutrality, 
the  commerce  of  the  stales  began  to  suffer  severely  from  the  jffect 
of  regulations  instituted  both  by  France  and  England  respecting  the 
rights  of  neutrals  to  carry  on  trade  with  the  enemy.  By  the  law  of 
nations,  supplies  destined  for  a  blockaded  port  may  be  liable  to 
seizure;  but  the  declaration  that  all  the  ports  of  an  enemy  are  in  a 
state  of  blockade,  affords  but  a  shallow  excuse  for  the  plunder  of  a 
neutral  nation.  Against  Great  Britain  another  cause  of  complaint 
existed,  if  of  less  political  importance  than  this  interference  with 
trade,  yet  of  a  nature  to  excite  far  greater  bitterness  of  private  ani- 
mosity. This  was  the  continual  impressment  of  British  seamen, 
serving  on  board  of  American  vessels,  and — cither  through  error  or 


830 


AMERICA  ILLUSl'EATED. 


pretended  mistake — the  seizure  of  Americans,  by  the  same  arbitrary 
and  summary  powers.  It  is  fully  established  that  many  citizens  of 
the  states  were  subjected  to  this  indignity  and  outrage. 

Shortly  after  the  coming  together  of  congress  in  December,  1793, 
Jefferson  retired  from  office,  and  was  succeeded  as  secretary  of  state 
by  Eandolph,  former  attorney-general.  A  report  upon  the  com- 
mercial relations  of  the  United  States,  carefully  prepared  by  the 
retiring  secretary,  and  exhibiting  his  political  views  respecting  the 
policy  to  be  pursued  towards  France  and  England,  was  submitted 
to  the  consideration  of  congress.  This  document  urged  a  discrimi- 
nation in  favour  of  France,  and  met  with  the  more  favourable 
reception  in  consideration  of  both  real  and  fancied  aggressions  on 
the  part  of  England.  Among  other  grounds  of  dissatisfaction  the 
continuance  of  Indian  disturbances  at  the  north-west  was  prominent, 
these  being  attributed  to  the  influence  of  British  emissaries,  encour- 
aged by  the  Canadian  governors. 

The  first  important  action  of  congress  related  to  the  means  to  be 
adopted  for  opposing  a  check  upon  the  depredations  of  piratical 
cruisers  from  Algiers  and  other  portions  of  the  Barbary  states,  by 
which  the  navigation  of  the  Mediterranean  was  rendered  unsafe,  and 
for  the  release  of  prisoners  taken  by  the  pirates,  and  still  held  in 
captivity.  A  corsiderable  sum  of  money  was  appropriated  for  the 
purpose  of  purchasing  terms  of  treaty,  while,  at  the  same  time,  in 
anticipation  of  a  failure  in  this  attempt,  congress  ordered  the  prepar- 
ation of  a  naval  armament  adequate  to  enforce  the  claims  of  the 
United  States. 


THE  UNITED   STA.TES. 


331 


CHAPTER   v. 


AMERICAN  POLITICS. DEBATE  IN  CONGRESS  UPON   FOREIGN 

RELATIONS. FURTHER  AGGRESSIONS  OF  ENGLAND. COM- 
MISSION   OF    JAY    AS    AMBASSADOR    EXTRAORDINARY    TO 

GREAT  BRITAIN. RELIEF    OF   IMMIGRANTS   FROM    ST. 

DOMINGO. — THE  NEUTRALITY  LAWS. — RESISTANCE 
TO  THE   EXCISE:   REEELLION  IN  WESTERN  PENN- 
SYLVANIA: ITS  FORCIBLE  SUPPRESSION:  OPIN- 
IONS OF  THE  REPUBLICAN  PARTY. 


The  introduction,  by  Mr.  Madison,  of  resolutions  in  s\ipport  of 
the  views  entertained  in  Jefferson's  report,  gave  rise  to  lengthy  and 
veherient  discussion.  The  two  great  parties  had  taken  issue  upon 
the  subject  of  the  policy  to  be  pursued  towards  France  and  England: 
the  sympathy  of  the  democratic  republicans  was  exclusively  extended 
towards  the  former  nation,  while  the  federalists,  questioning  the  sta. 
bility  and  good  fuith  of  the  new  republic,  were  anxious  to  avoid 
serious  collision  with  the  government  of  Great  Britain. 

Smith,  of  South  Carolina,  took  the  lead  of  the  opposition,  and 
argued  at  length  upon  the  futility  as  well  as  injustice  of  any  attempt 
at  governing  the  foreign  policy  of  England  by  a  discriminating  sca^^ 
of  duties  and  .tonnage.  The  resolutions,  by  virtue  of  which  the 
commerce  of  nations  under  no  commercial  treaty  with  the  United 
States  was  to  be  subjected  to  restrictions  or  burdens  not  extended 
to  others,  passed  by  a  small  majority.  They  were  avowedly  aimed 
at  the  trade  with  England.  "Of  the  efficacy  of  these  commercial 
restrictions,"  says  ^Ir.  Ilildreth,  "as  a  means  of  coercing  Great  Brit- 
ain/Madison  and  his  party  entertained  very  extravagant  ideas,  of 
which  they  had  afterward  ample  opportunity  io  be  cured.  What, 
indeed,  could  be  more  extravagait  than  the  statement  that  Great 
Britain  imported  necessaries  from  us,  and  we  only  luxuries  from  her, 
repeated  over  and  over  again  by  the  representatives  of  a  state  whose 
chief  export  was  tobacco,  and  whose  imports  were  principally  cloth- 
ing, tools,  and  other  manufactured  articles  of  daily  use  and  necessity? 
In  all  these  commercial  struggles,  nothing  is  more  certain  than  that 
the  richest  party  can  endure  the  longest,  and  is  sure  to  triumph  in 
the  end." 


332 


AMEEICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


The  measures  adopted  against  Great  Britain  were  rendered  still 
more  popular  upon  the  arrival  of  intelligence  that  orders  had  been 
issued  by  the  admiralty  in  November  previous,  by  which  neutral 
trade  with  French  colonies  was  as  arbitrarily  dealt  with  as  that  with 
France  direct.  It  was  also  reported  that  the  British  governor  of 
Lower  Canada,  Lord  Dorchester,  at  an  Indian  council,  had  delivered 
an  address  breathing  a  hostile  spirit  towards  the  United  States. 

The  anticipated  danger  was  met  by  appropriations — on  rather  a 
small  scale,  considering  the  supposed  necessities  of  the  case — for  for- 
tifying various  sea-ports,  and  for  organization  and  training  of  the 
militia.  A  temporary  embargo  was  also  decided  upon.  So  strong 
was  the  hostile  feeling,  that  a  motion  was  made,  and  warmly  urged, 
for  the  sequestration  of  debts  due  to  British  creditors,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  applying  them  to  indemnify  those  who  had  sustained  losses 
by  seizure  of  property  under  the  obnoxious  laws  restraining  neutral 
trade.  It  was  also  proposed  that  all  trade  with  Great  Britain  should 
cease  until  reparation  should  be  made  for  these  illegal  seizures,  and 
until  an  evacuation  of  the  western  military  posts  should  be  ordered. 

The  English  ministry,  on  the  other  hand,  seemed  to  incline  to 
pacific  and  conciliatory  measures,  being  "too  fully  and  deeply  occu- 
pied wiiLi  treasons  at  home,  and  the  menace  of  invasion  from  abroad, 
to  answer  this  wasp'shness  of  America  in  a  similar  tone.  On  the 
contrary,  the  last  obnoxious  order  of  the  admiralty  was  recalled,  and 
the  federal  party  were  able  to  rally,  and  entertain  hopes  of  avoiding 
a  rupture." 

Washington  was  anxious  to  preserve  peaceable  relations  with 
Great  Britain,  and,  foreseeing  the  possible  results  of  heated  and 
angry  debate  in  congress,  with  the  recurrence  of  successive  hostile 
enactments  passed  upon  the  spur  of  the  occasion,  and  insufficiently 
digested,  he  fixed  upon  a  plan  to  set  the  matter  temporarily  at  rest. 
In  the  month  of  April,  1794,  he  proposed  to  the  senate  the  appoint 
ment  of  a  minister  extraordinary,  empowered  to  negotiate  for  the 
settlement  of  all  existing  difficulties  with  England,  and  nominated, 
for  this  mission,  Chief-Justice  Jay.  The  nomination  was  confirmed, 
by  a  very  close  vote. 

These  were  times  of  great  political   excitement.     Every  arrival 
from  Europe  brought  news  replete  with  interest,  and  having  a  bear- 
ing upon  American  politics  more  direct  than  we  can  well  a]ij)reciate 
at  tlij  present  time.     Tlie  more  violent  of  the  republican  party  imi 
ttated  the  French  organization  of  political  clubs,  and  in  the  midai 


THE  UNITED   STATES. 


333 


of  the  "ReicTTi  of  Terror,"  were  so  far  blinded  by  party  zeal  as  to 
rejoice  ^v  intelligence  of  proceedings  which,  if  brought  nearer 
home,  wOt,  ..  have  excited  unmingled  horror  and  disgust.  Others, 
more  moderate,  yet  with  equal  sympathy  for  a  nation  involved  like 
our  own,  in  a  strife  between  the  people  and  their  hereditary  tyrants, 
lamented  over  the  violence  which  by  reaction  must  eventually  pre- 
judice the  cause  of  liberty  and  of  equal  rights. 

la  anticipation  of  conquest  by  the  English,  the  French  officials  at 
St.  Domingo  had  issued  a  proclamation  by  which  the  slaves  on  that 
island  were  set  free.  The  country  became  generally  unsafe  for 
whites,  and  many,  abandoning  all  their  effects,  sailed  for  the  United 
States.  A  bill  introduced  for  the  relief  of  these  unfortunate  immi- 
grants called  forth  much  argument  upon  the  constitutional  limits  of 
the  power  of  congress.  No  authority  can  be  discovered  in  the  con- 
stitution for  any  appropriation  for  mere  purposes  of  charity,  except 
by  a  forced  implication  under  the  general  provisions  for  foreign 
intercourse.  The  measure  was,  notwithstanding,  carried,  by  virtue 
of  its  popularity,  and  has  formed  a  precedent  acted  upon  at  a  much 
later  period,  upon  the  occasion  of  the  famine  in  Ireland.  Fifteen 
thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  for  the  relief  of  the  French 
immigrants. 

Another  act,  passed  at  this  session,  of  great  present  interest,  was 
called  forth  by  the  continued  efforts  of  French  agents  to  organize 
expeditions  against  the  Spanish  possessions  of  Louisiana.  The 
anxiety  of  the  western  settlers  to  obtain  possession  of  the  Mississippi 
rendered  it  an  easy  matter  to  collect  adventurers  upon  such  an  enter- 
prise, if  winked  at  by  government.  A  bill  to  restrain  American 
citizens  from  engaging  in  hostilities  with  friendly  nations  passed 
both  houses  early  in  June.  A  fine  of  one  thousand  dollars  and  three 
years'  imprisonment  were  made  the  penalty  for  entrance  into  foreign 
military  service  by  any  persons  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United 
States.  This  provision  was  specially  aimed  at  those  who  should 
unlawfully  enlist  recruits;  the  penalty  awarded  against  those  whom 
they  had  seduced  from  allegiance  being  remitted  upon  conviction  of 
the  former,  consequent  on  their  information. 

The  equipment  of  vessels,  and  the  organization  of  expeditions 
within  the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  hostilities 
against  any  country  at  peace  with  the  confederation,  subjected  the 
offender  to  a  still  lieavier  fine,  with  the  same  term  of  imprisonment. 
To  secure  promptitude  in  tlie  suppression  of  such  unlawful  enter* 


334 


AMERICA  ILLUSTEATED, 


prise,  the  president  was  expressly  authorized  to  exert  his  powers  as 
commander-in-cliief  of  the  military  forces  of  the  United  States,  and 
in  case  of  necessity  to  call  out  the  militia. 

A  serious  civil  disturbance  took  place  in  western  Pennsylvania 
during  the  summer.  The  law  imposing  excise  duties  on  spirituous 
liquors  of  domestic  manufacture  had  been,  from  the  first,  particularly 
obnoxious  in  this  section  of  the  country,  the  difficulty  of  getting 
grain  to  market  rendering  its  consumption  for  purposes  of  distil- 
lation a  matter  of  great  convenience  and  profit.  Process  being 
issued  against  certain  distillers  who  had  neglected  to  conform  to  the 
provisions  of  the  act,  the  civil  officials  were  resisted,  and  the 
rioters,  adopting  an  offensive  attitude,  assailed  the-  house  of  the 
inspector. 

The  spirit  of  insurrection  rapidly  spread  throughout  the  western 
counties,  and  the  people,  inflamci  by  the  speeches  and  influence  of 
demagogues,  set  the  laws  at  defiance,  maltreated  its  officers,  and  held 
public  meetings  for  organizing  a  regralar  system  of  resistance.  The 
mails  were  intercepted  to  cut  off  communication  with  the  scat  of 
government,  and  the  friends  of  order  and  obedience  to  the  laws  were 
completely  overawed  in  all  the  disaffected  districts. 

The  leaders  of  this  insurrectioa  became  the  more  insolent  and 
exacting  from  the  mild  meaMirea  at  first  resorted  to  for  allaying  the 
tumult,  and  the  president  found  it  necessary  to  exert  his  constitu- 
tional powers  for  the  support  of  the  laws.  A  requisition  was  made  for 
fifteen  thousand  militia,  from  Pennifvlvania  and  the  adjoining  states: 
an  overpowering  force  waa  marched  into  the  western  counties,  and 
every  symptom  of  rebellion  speedily  disappeared.  Those  who  had 
taken  the  most  active  part  in  the  outbreak  made  their  escape:  many 
arrests  were  made,  but  great  leniency  was  exhibited  towards  the  few 
found  guilty  upon  trial. 

It  was  the  opinion  of  the  republican  party  in  general,  that  this 
demonstration  was  uncalled  for  by  the  exigency  of  the  circumstances. 
Jeflorson,  in  a  letter,  says  of  the  doings  of  the  rebels:  "  We  know  of 
none  which,  according  to  the  definitions  of  the  law,  have  been  any 


thing  more  than  riotous. 


The  information  of  our  militia 


returned  from  the  westward  is  uniform,  that,  though  the  peoj)lc  there 
let  them  pass  quietly,  they  were  objects  of  their  laughter,  not  of  their 
fear;  that  one  thousand  men  coald  have  cut  ofT  their  A'hole  force  in 
a  thou.sand  places  of  the  Alleghany;  that  tbeir  detestation  of  the 
excise  law  is  universal,  and  has  now  associated  to  it  a  detestation  ot 


r 


THE   UNITED  STATES. 


385 


the  government;  and  that  separation,  which,  perhaps,  was  a  very 
distant  and  problematical  event,  is  now  near,  and  certain,  and  deter- 
mined in  the  mind  of  every  man." 


CHAPTER   ?L 

GEXERAL  "WAYNE'S  CASTPAIGN  AGAINST  THE  NORTH-WESTERN 

INDIANS. DEFEAT  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE   TRIBES  AT   THE 

MIAMI   BAPILS.  —  NATURALIZATION   LAWS. — THE   DEMO- 
CRATIC    CLCBS.  —  HAMILTON'S      RESIGNATION.  —  THE 
BKIIISH  TREATY:  ITS  RATIFICATION:   POPULAR  IN- 
DIGNATION.— RANDOLPH'S  RESIGNATION 


The  north-western  Indians,  unmolested  by  any  important  military 
expedition  since  their  signal  victory  over  St.  Clair,  had  grown  con- 
tinually more  insolent  and  exacting  in  their  demands.  The  progress 
of  western  settlements  was  impeded  by  savage  inroads:  the  natives 
considered  all  white  emigrants  from  the  east  as  encroachers,  and, 
rendered  confident  by  late  successes,  seemed  rather  to  court  hostili- 
ties. It  finally  became  essential  to  oppose  a  forcible  check  to 
their  ravages.  To  guard  against  the  possibility  of  a  second  defeat, 
the  campaign  of  1794  was  preceded  by  the  fortification  of  military 
posts  at  Greenville,  on  the  Miami,  and  at  the  spot  rendered  memora- 
ble by  St.  Clair's  defeat.     The  latter  was  named  Fort  Recovery. 

The  preceding  winter  and  spring  were  occupied  in  these  works, 
and  in  the  collection  of  an  army,  the  command  of  which  was  be- 
stowed  upon  General  Wayne.  On  the  30th  of  June,  1794,  the 
strength  of  the  position  at  Fort  Recovery  was  tested  by  a  fierce 
attack  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  assisted  by  a  number  of  whites — 
English  or  Canadians.  The  place  was  successfully  defended,  al- 
though not  without  heavy  loss. 

In  the  month  of  August  active  operations  were  commenced. 
"When  the  army  was  once  put  in  motion,  important  and  decisive 
events  rapidly  succeeded.  The  march  was  directed  into  the  heart  of 
the  Indian  settlements  on  the  Miami,  now  called  Maumce,  a  river 
emptying  into  the  western  extremity  of  Lake  Eric.  Where  tho 
beautiful  stream  An  Glaise  empties  into  the  river,  a  fort  was  imme- 
Vol.  IV.— 50 


836 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


diately  erected,  and  named  Fort  Defiance.  From  this  post  General 
Wayne  sent  emissaries  to  invite  the  hostile  nations  to  negotiation, 
but  the  pride  and  rancour  of  the  Indians  prevented  any  favourable 
results.  Little  Turtle,  indeed,  seemed  to  forebode  the  impending 
storm,  and  advised  the  acceptance  of  the  terms  offered.  'The 
Americans,'  said  he,  'are  now  led  by  a  chief  who  never  sleeps:  the 
night  and  the  day  are  alike  to  him.  *  *  Think  well  of  it. 
There  is  something  whispers  me  it  would  be  prudent  to  listen  to  his 
offers  of  peace.'"*  Wayne  was  commonly  called  by  the  Indians 
the  "Black  Snake:"  another  soubriquet,  bestowed  upon  him  by  his 
own  followers,  was  that  of  "Mad  Anthony." 

The  American  camp  was  posted  in  the  midst  of  such  extensive 
and  high!}'  cultivated  fields  of  corn  as  excited  the  admiration  and 
astonishment  of  the  invaders.  The  country  "presented  for  milevS 
the  appearance  of  a  single  village,  and  rich  corn-fields  spread  on 
either  side."  The  Indians  had  retreated  down  the  river  from  their 
settlement,  upon  the  advance  of  the  army,  and  had  taken  up  a 
position  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  a  British  fort,  near  the  Miami 
rapids.  This  was  one  of  those  posts  retained  by  Great  Britain  in 
defiance  of  former  treaties,  and  constituted,  as  was  generally  be- 
lieved, a  dep<jt  where  the  Indians  could  procure  arms  and  counsel, 
if  not  direct  assistance. 

General  Wayne  attacked  the  enemy  in  their  position,  on  the  20th 
of  August  The  Indians  fought  bravely :  skilled  in  the  use  of  fire- 
arms, and  somewhat  familiar  with  the  tactics  of  modern  warfare, 
they  were  far  different  opponents  from  what  they  had  been  in  earlier 
times.  Their  array,  however,  was  broken  by  a  charge  of  bayonets, 
and  an  entire  rout  ensued.  The  powerful  confederacy  was,  for  the 
time,  annihilated;  and  the  Americans,  retracing  their  steps,  spent 
some  time  in  laying  waste  the  fields  and  settlements  of  the  wretched 
savages.  Garrisons  were  posted  at  the  forts  within  the  Indian  dis- 
tricts, and  the  army  retired  to  Greenville  for  winter-quarters. 

The  more  imj")ortant  proceedings  of  congress,  at  the  winter  session 
of  1791-5,  related  to  the  naturalization  laws — which  were  estab- 
lished as  at  present,  requiring  five  years'  residence  in  the  United 
States,  a  declaration  of  intention  three  years  previous  to  the  final 
application,  and  one  years'  residence  in  the  state  where  the  petition 
is  granted; — and  the  establishment  of  a  system  for  the  appropria- 
tion of  8urplu3  revenue  for  the  reduction  of  the  national  debt. 

*  Indian  Rncus  of  America. 


THE   UNITED   STATES. 


337 


A.  lengthy  and  excited  debate  arose  early  in  the  session,  upon  the 
question  as  to  whnt  action  should  be  taken  in  reply  to  certain  re- 
marks in  a  message  of  the  president,  relative  to  the  democratic 
clubs.  In  adverting  to  the  circumstances  attendant  upon  the  excise 
tumults,  Washington  alluded  to  these  associations,  as  "self-created 
societies,"  whose  influence  had  been  perniciously  extended  in  oppo 
sition  to  the  power  and  authority  of  government.  The  senate 
concurred  in  this  denunciation ;  the  house  of  representatives  com- 
promised the  matter  in  dispute  by  a  general  resolution,  condemning 
the  action  of  individuals  or  societies,  which  should  have  resulted  in 
misrepresentations  of  the  proceedings  of  government,  or  have  coun- 
tenanced resistance  to  lawfid  tuithority. 

It  was  at  this  session  that  Alexander  Hamilton  resigned  his  office 
as  secretary  of  the  treasury,  and  General  Knox  that  of  secretary  of 
war.  Oliver  Wolcott,  an  officer  connected  with  the  treasury  depart- 
ment, succeeded  the  former ;  the  place  of  the  latter  was  occupied  by 
Timothy  Pickering,  former  post-master  general.  It  is  said  that  the 
principal  motive  for  retirement,  on  the  part  of  both  these  distin- 
guished officials,  was  pecuniary  necessity,  the  pay  awarded  for  their 
public  services  being  grossly  inadequate. 

A  special  session  of  the  senate  was  called  early  in  June,  1795,  to 
deliberate  upon  a  treaty  recently  arranged  between  Jay,  the  Ameri- 
can ambassador  extraordinary,  and  the  British  minister.  Lord  Gren- 
ville.  Great  Britain,  it  was  found,  would  consent  to  few  concessions; 
the  most  objectionable  of  her  claims  were  still  insisted  upon,  or  left 
open ;  and  the  commercial  privileges  yielded  to  America  were  gen- 
erally accompanied  by  onerous  restrictions  or  conditions.  She  agreed 
to  give  up  possession  of  the  western  jiosts  upon  securit}^  for  payment 
of  debts  due  to  British  subjects  before  the  revolution.  A  reciprocal 
agreement  provided  for  indemnity  in  all  cases  of  illegal  seizures. 

With  respect  to  freedom  of  commerce,  the  right  to  trade  with  the 
Briti.sh  West  Indies  was  restricted  to  vessels  not  exceeding  seventy 
tons  measurement,  a  privilege  counterbalanced  by  a  prohibition  of 
any  exportation  of  articles  similar  to  those  produced  in  those  colo- 
nies, from  America  to  Europe.  A  wide  discretion  was  still  claimed 
respecting  the  right  to  seize  supplies  destined  for  any  country  with 
which  England  should  be  engaged  in  hostilities.  Such  articles  as 
were  not  clearly  "contraband  of  war,"  \vere,  it  is  true,  to  be  j)aid  for 
if  seized.  No  indemnity  could  be  jirocured  for  those  who  had  suf- 
fered loss  from  the  abduction  of  slaves  by  the  British  during  the 


Imi 


888 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


war;  and  the  riglit  to  impress  subjects  of  the  king,  if  found  on 
board  American  vessels,  was  insisted  upon,  and  remained  undecided. 
Goods  belonging  to  an  enemy  were  still  claimed  by  England  to  be 
liable  to  seizure  on  board  the  vessels  of  a  neutral. 

The  treaty  was  approved  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  senate,  (ob- 
jection being  taken  to  the  article  relating  to  the  West  India  trade, 
upon  which  action  was  suspended,)  and  received  the  ratification  of 
the  president  on  the  14th  day  of  August,  notwithstanding  a  storm 
of  popular  indignation,  which  had  broken  out  upon  its  publication. 
The  terms  agreed  upon  fell  so  far  short  of  the  expectations  or  wishes 
of  the  people,  that  meetings  were  every  where  held,  and  violent 
denunciatory  resolutions  passed.  A  memorial  accompanied  the  rat- 
ification, protesting  against  the  claim,  enforced  by  recent  orders  of 
admiralty,  respecting  the  indiscriminate  seizure  of  provisions  which 
might  be  destined  for  the  relief  of  an  enemy. 

At  this  time,  certain  private  communications  between  Mr.  Ed- 
mund Randolph,  the  secretary  of  state,  and  Fauchet,  the  successor 
of  Genet  as  ambassador  from  France,  having  come  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  British  government  by  an  intercepted  dispatch,  had  been  made 
known  to  the  president.  The  tendency  of  these  disclosures  was  to 
reflect  upon  the  secretary  an  imputation  of  double-dealing,  and  of 
some  unwarrantable  propositions.  He  accordingly  resigned  his  office, 
at  the  same  time  entering  into  an  elaborate  defence  of  his  conduct, 
and  indignantly  denying  the  validity  of  conclusions  adopted  by  his 
political  opponents.  A  discussion  of  the  merits  of  the  case  is  en- 
tirely beyond  our  limits,  and  it  may,  indeed,  be  doubted  whether 
we  have  means  for  arriving  at  a  determinate  opinion  respecting 
the  affair. 


THE    UNITED   STATES. 


839 


CHAPTER   ?n. 


INDIAN    TREATY    AT    FORT    GREENYILLE. — TREATIES   WITH 

ALGIERS  AND  SPAIN;   THE  MISSISSIPPI  OPENED   TO   AMERICAN 

TRADE.  —  DEBATE    IN    CONGRESS    UPON    JAY'S  BRITISH 

TREATY. TENNESSEE   ADMITTED   INTO   THE   UNION. 

— FRENCH    PROCEEDINGS    IN    RESPECT    TO    THE 
TREATY.  —  AMERICAN  MINISTERS  TO  FRANCE. 
WASHINGTON'S  RETIREMENT   FROM  OF- 
FICE:   SLANDERS  UPON   HIS  CHARACTER. 
JOHN  ADAMS  ELECTED  PRESIDENT. 


The  Indians  of  the  north-west,  finally  convinced  of  the  superior 
power  of  the  United  States,  and  learning  that  their  old  allies,  the 
British,  were  about  to  evacuate  the  western  military  posts,  expressed 
a  willingness  to  treat  pacificall}'.  A  great  meeting  was  brought 
about  at  Fort  Greenville  at  the  beginning  of  August,  1795,  at  which 
General  Wayne,  on  behalf  of  the  United  States,  entered  into  a  defi- 
nite agreement  with  the  principal  chiefe  respecting  future  bounda- 
ries, &c.  The  Indians  gave  up  all  claim  to  an  immense  tract  included 
in  the  present  state  of  Ohio,  together  with  other  lands  farther  west. 

Before  the  next  session  of  congress  very  important  trtaties  were 
also  negotiated  with  the  Dey  of  Algiers,  and  with  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernment. In  common  with  several  European  nations,  the  United 
States  submitted  to  the  disgraceful  imposition  of  a  heavy  tribute, 
in  order  to  secure  safety  for  her  commerce  from  the  attacks  of  the 
Algerine  corsairs,  and  for  the  release  of  prisoners  still  held  in  cap- 
tivity, victims  of  former  piracies.  "With  Spain  moro  honourable 
arrangements  were  established.  The  boundaries  of  her  provinces 
of  Florida  and  Louisiana  were  assigned,  and  free  navigation  through- 
out the  Mississippi  was  secured  to  the  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

These  several  treaties  having  been  ratified  by  the  senate  and 
president,  together  with  that  concluded  with  Great  Britain,  were 
brought  before  the  house  of  representatives,  at  its  winter  session, 
for  the  purpose  of  such  action  being  taken,  and  such  appropriations 
made,  as  should  give  them  full  effect.  Those  relating  to  Indian 
affairs,  Algiers,  and  Spain,  were  readily  disposed  of:  the  English 
treaty  called  forth  all  the  fury  of  the  opposition.     A  previous  refusal 


>'» 


840 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


by  the  president,  on  grounds  of  public  policy,  upon  a  call  from  the 
house,  to  lay  before  that  body  the  diplomatic  correspondence,  &c., 
relative  to  this  treaty,  had  a  tendency  to  aggravate  party  violence. 

The  question  was  debated  from  April  15th,  1796,  until  the  close 
of  the  month.  The  whole  effect  of  treaties;  whether  they  became 
binding  when  ratified,  or  whether  concurrence  of  the  house  by 
necessary  appropriations  was  requisite  before  the  national  faith  could 
be  considered  pledged;  and  an  application  of  general  principles 
to  this  particular  treaty,  formed  abundant  theme  for  argument  and 
declamation.  A  compromise  was  finally  effected,  by  a  passage  of 
the  appropriations,  as  being  a  matter  of  present  expediency,  without 
any  decision  of  the  general  position  in  dispute. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  just  at  the  close  of  the  session,  the  state  of 
Tennessee  was  admitted  into  the  Union.  The  population  of  that  ter- 
ritory already  amounted  to  about  eighty  thousand,  including  negroes. 

The  conclusion  of  Jay's  British  treaty  excited  great  dissatisfaction 
in  France.  The  Directory,  indignant  that  America  should  have 
yielded  to  the  British  claims  respecting  the  seizure  of  French  prop- 
erty on  board  neutral  vessels,  declared  that  France  was  no  longer 
bound  by  the  stipulations  of  her  former  treaty  with  the  United 
States,  and,  on  the  2d  of  July,  1796,  an  order  was  promulgated, 
"authorizing  the  ships-of  war  of  the  republic  to  treat  neutral  vessels 
in  the  same  manner  in  which  they  suffered  themselves  to  be  treated 
by  the  English." 

Great  numbers  of  American  vessels  were  seized  and  confiscated 
under  this  decree.  Mr.  Monroe,  minister  to  France,  at  this  period 
was  a  member  of  the  republican  party,  and,  as  such,  warmly  fa- 
voured the  interests  of  that  nation.  He  had  met  with  an  enthusiastic 
reception,  and,  through  him,  a  formal  exchange  of  flags  had  been 
effected  between  France  and  the  United  States,  as  a  token  of  mutual 
respect  and  amity.  With  the  intention  of  adopting  a  stronger  tone 
towai'ds  the  government  of  the  republic,  "Washington  appointed 
Charles  C.  Pinckney  of  South  Carolina,  in  place  of  Monroe.  The 
new  envoy  sailed  for  France  in  September. 

As  the  period  of  his  second  term  of  office  approached.  President 
Washington,  in  a  farewell  address,  announced  his  determination  to 
retire  from  public  life.  This  valedictory  was  issued  in  the  mouth 
of  September,  1796.  Throughout  his  administration  his  conduct 
had  been  marked  by  firmness  and  integrity;  but  his  leaning  towards 
the  principlcb  of  the  federalists  was  an  unpardonable  sin  in  the 


THE    UNITED    STATES. 


841 


Opinion  of  too  many  of  the  opposition.  Every  species  of  abuse  had 
been  heaped  upon  him  by  ranters  in  the  republican  party;  ambitious 
personal  views,  disregard  for  popular  rights,  a  tyrannical  disposition, 
and  even  peculations  upon  the  public  funds,  were  attributed  to  him. 
The  grossest  misrepresentations  reflecting  upon  his  character  were 
circulated ;  his  enemies  did  not  even  scruple  at  the  publication  of 
forged  letters  for  the  purpose  of  alienating  the  affection  and  respect 
of  the  people  from  their  former  idol. 

Time  has  exposed  these  falsehoods,  and  the  vituperation  of  polit- 
ical opponents  is  forgotten.  The  acrimony  of  party  zeal  has  ceased 
to  blind  men's  minds  to  the  true  character  of  Washington ;  no  man 
in  public  life  has  left  behind  him  a  more  unblemished  reputation, 
and  few  have  attained  equal  eminence  as  a  commander  and  a 
statesman. 

At  the  second  presidential  election,  the  great  political  parties  put 
forward,  as  their  respective  candidates,  John  Adams  and  Thomas 
Jefferson.  Seventy  votes  were  necessary  to  a  choice;  Adams  re- 
ceived seventy-one,  and  the  republican  candidate  sixty-nine  by  virtue 
of  which  he  entered  upon  the  office  of  vice-president.  The  inaugu- 
ration took  place  in  the  9th  of  March,  1797.  Washington  retired 
to  his  estate  at  Mount  Vernon,  where  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life. 


CHAPTER   YHL 

TREATMENT  OP  UNITED  STATES'  AMBASSADORS  IN  PRANCE.— 
HOSTILE  PREPARATIONS   IN  AMERICA.  —  NEW   EMBASSY:   RE- 
FUSAL  OP   THE   DIRECTORY    TO    RECEIVE   THE   AMERICAN 
MINISTERS.  —  NEGOTIATIONS    WITH    TALLEYRAND. — 
EXTRAVAGANT  DEMANDS  AND  INJURIOUS  DECREES  OF 
THE  DIRECTORY. — RETURN  OP  THE  AMBASSADORS. — 
ACTION  OF  CONGRESS:    MILITARY  PREPARATIONS: 
ALIEN  AND  SEDITION  LAWS.  LAND-TAX,  ETC. 


The  administration  of  Mr.  Adams  opened  with  serious  and  per- 
plexing difficulties  connected  with  our  relations  towards  France. 
Soon  after  the  inauguration,  dispatches  arrived  from  Pinckney, 
setting  forth  the  injurious  reception  that  he  had  met  with  on  the 


842 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


part  of  the  Directory.  Monroe,  upon  presentation  of  his  own  letters 
of  recall,  and  those  relative  to  the  new  appointment,  was  notified 
that  France  would  receive  no  other  ambassador  from  the  United 
States  until  redress  should  be  made  for  the  grievances  before  com- 
plained of  as  connected  with  the  British  treaty. 

The  retiring  minister,  at  his  last  audience,  was  dismissed  by  the 
president,  Barras,  in  a  speech  as  flattering  to  him  as  insulting  to  his 
country.  Pinckney  could  not  even  obtain  a  necessary  protection 
for  continuing  in  tne  country  until  further  orders  from  home.  He 
was  compelled  to  leave  France,  and  proceeded,  accordingly,  to 
Holland. 

The  late  astonishing  successes  which  had  attended  her  arms  upon 
the  continent,  caused  the  existing  government  of  France  to  under- 
value the  importance  of  preserving  friendly  relations  with  the 
American  republic ;  and  the  tone  adopted  by  the  Directory  was  of 
a  character  calculated  to  strengthen  the  federal  party  in  the  states. 
New  and  offensive  decrees  relative  to  American  commerce  speedily 
followed. 

President  Adams,  in  a  forcible  address  to  congress,  set  forth  the 
conduct  of  the  French  government,  as  opposed  to  all  rules  of  na- 
tional courtesy  and  right:  he  recommended  the  formation  of  a 
naval  force,  with  other  measures  for  defence  of  the  commerce  of  the 
country,  and  inveighed  against  the  interference  of  France  with  the 
internal  politics  of  the  United  States,  exhibited  in  various  endeav- 
ours to  influence  the  elections,  and  alienate  the  people  from  the 
government.  After  long  debate  in  the  house,  appropriations  were 
made,  and  loans  authorized  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the 
views  of  the  president,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  a  draught 
of  militia  from  the  several  states  in  case  of  emergency. 

A  new  embassy  was  commissioned,  consisting  of  three  persons — 
Pinckney,  Marshall,  and  Gerry — to  make  a  further  attempt  at  the 
opening  of  pacific  negotiations.  The  envoys  proceeded  to  France, 
and  arrived  in  Paris  early  in  October,  1797.  The  Directory  refused 
to  receive  them,  but  an  irregular  negotiation  was  commenced  through 
the  intervention  of  some  agents  of  Talleyrand,  then  minister  for 
foreign  affairs,  and  protracted,  without  important  issue,  until  April 
of  the  following  year.  During  this  period,  the  American  ambassa- 
dors were  officially  authorized  to  remain  at  the  capital,  and,  frbm 
time  to  time,  held  interviews  with  Talleyrand  or  his  creatures. 

The  point  most  insisted  on  by  the  latter,  was  the  necessity  for 


THE   UNITED   STATES. 


343 


opening  the  ^vay  to  a  complete  arrangement,  by  a  douceur  or  bribe 
of  about  two  hundred  and  forty  thousand  dollars,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  minister  and  directory,  and  the  effecting  a  loan  to  the  French 
government  of  a  lurther  sum.  This  rapacious  scheme  was  urged 
with  the  most  unblushing  effrontery.  "The  main  point,"  said  the 
Frenchmen,  "is  ilfaut  de  V argent— ilfaut  beaucoup  d^argent:^  Some- 
thing in  hand,  at  least,  they  urged,  should  bo  paid  them,  uniil  the 
matter  could  be  finally  arranged.  In  vain  did  the  envoys  protest 
that  they  possessed  no  shadow  of'  authority  for  such  proceedings 
or  undertakings;  the  matter  was  again  and  again  reverted  to, 
and  suggestions,  unworthy  of  any  but  the  most  venal  and  cor- 
rupt, were  made  respecting  the  manner  in  which  it  might  be 
brought  about. 

The  demands  of  the  Directory,  as  finally  communicated  by  Tal- 
leyrand, could  not  be  listened  to  for  a  moment.  If  granted,  they 
would  necessarily  involve  the  United  States  in  an  immediate  war, 
for  not  only  was  the  loan  insisted  upon,  but  also  an  annulment 
of  the  late  treaty  with  Great  Britain,  Desirous  to  terrify,  or  force 
compliance  with  their  unreasonable  demands,  the  i^overnment  had, 
during  the  winter,  greatly  extended  the  grounds  upon  which  Amer- 
ican vessels  were  held  liable  to  seizure.  It  was  declared  that  all 
produce  of  any  dependency  of  Great  Britain,  without  regard  to 
existing  ownership,  should  be  lawful  prize,  if  found  on  board  a 
neutral  vessel. 

After  experiencing  every  slight  and  indignity,  two  of  the  Ameri- 
can  commissioners,  Marshall  and  Pinckney,  returned  to  the  states; 
Gerry,  through  whom,  individually,  many  of  the  previous  commu- 
nications had  been  made  by  Talleyrand,  and  with  whom,  as  being 
the  only  republican  on  the  commission,  it  was  intimated  that  farther 
negotiations  might  be  continued,  remained  at  Paris. 

This  treatment  of  the  United  States'  ambassadors  could  not  fail  to 
weaken  the  influence  of  the  Gallican  party  in  America.  The  out- 
rageous demands  of  France,  and  the  character  of  the  late  commercial 
decrees,  could  not  be  sustained  by  the  most  ardent  of  her  adherents 
on  this  side  the  water.  Congress  being  in  session,  April,  1798,  dis- 
patches containing  a  history  of  the  negotiation  were  brought  up  for 
consideration.  The  most  active  measures  were  at  once  taken  to 
prepare  for  contingent  hostilities,  and  to  furnish  present  protection 
to  American  shipping.  Large  sums  were  appropriated  for  the  pur- 
chase of  munitions  of  war,  for  the  increase  of  the  naval  force,  and 


Ml 


344 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


for  fortifications.  A  new  cabinet  department  was  created  for  the 
management  of  naval  affairs. 

A  succession  of  important  and  decisive  measures  were  passed 
during  the  spring  and  summer.  Without  a  direct  declaration  of  war 
with  France,  orders  were  issued  for  a  cessation  of  all  commercial 
mtercourse  with  that  country ;  former  treaties  were  declared  to  be 
of  no  further  effect ;  the  capture  of  any  armed  French  vessels  was 
authorized,  if  by  private  adventure,  and  directed,  on  the  part  of 
the  United  States'  navy.  The  latter  was  greatly  increased,  and  large 
appropriations  were  made  for  building  new  vessels  and  enlisting  a 
corps  of  ma,rines. 

Powers  Avere  bestowed  upon  the  president,  to  enlist  an  arjny  of 
ten  thousand  men,  in  case  of  urgent  necessity,  and  to  immediately 
appoint  military  officers,  and  make  arrangements  for  the  enrolment 
and  training  of  volunteers,  in  anticipation  of  such  contingency.  He 
also  received  discretionary  authority  to  order  from  the  country  any 
foreigner  who  should  be  suspected  of  dangerous  designs  against 
government;  and,  in  case  of  hostilities,  to  banish  or  arrest  all  per- 
sons belonging  to  the  nation  against  which  war  should  be  declared. 

To  meet  thv.  heavy  expense  of  these  defensive  measures,  a  tax 
was  laid  upon  slaves  and  real  estate.  As  a  check  upon  the  violence 
of  the  more  turbulent  portion  of  the  opposition,  and  a  restraint  upon 
foreign  intrigue,  an  act  was  passed  defining  and  affixing  punishment 
to  seditious  or  treasonable  conspiracies  for  opposing  the  authority 
of  government,  and  to  the  issuing  of  any  libel  upon  congress,  the 
executive,  or  the  measures  of  government,  as  well  as  any  false  and 
malicious  publication,  having  a  tendency  to  excite  domestic  disaf 
fection,  or  to  aid  or  encourage  the  designs  of  any  hostile  nation. 

These  acts  met  with  a  very  strong  opposition  in  congress ;  but 
the  federal  party  was  in  a  decided  majority,  and  generally  succeedea 
in  carrying  the  measures  introduced  by  its  leaders. 

The  office  of  commander-in-chief  of  the  provisional  army  was  be- 
stowed upon  Washington:  hi:;  acceptance  was  conditional  that  hia 
Bervices  should  be  required  only  in  case  of  emergency. 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


845 


uXXiriiTiLjIiiJU      it   JLt 


PACIFIC   MOVEMENTS  IN  PRANCE. — MISSION    OF    MURRAT.- 
NATAL   ENGAGEMENTS.  —  DEATH  OP   WASHINGTON. — NAPO- 
LEON   FIRST    CONSUL. — TREATY   WITH   FRANCE. FIRST 

SESSION     OP     CONGRESS     AT     WASHINGTON. PRESI- 
DENTIAL   ELECTION;    JEFFERSON    PRESIDENT,    AND 
BURR   VICE-PRESIDENT.  —  PARTY   REMOVAL   FROM 
OFFICE. — ECONOMICAL     REFORMS.  —  OHIO     AD- 
MITTED   INTO    THE     UNION.  —  TRANSFER    OF 
LOUISIANA    TO    THE    UNITED    STATES. 


The  Directory,  finding  all  eflforts  to  involve  the  United  States  in 
war  with  England  likely  to  prove  futile,  and  learning  by  experi- 
ence, that  in  naval  operations  the  retaliatory  measures  lately  adopted 
in  America,  would  tell  severely  upon  French  commerce,  adopted  a 
more  pacific  and  conciliatory  course.  Shortly  before  the  departure 
of  Gerry,  which  took  place  in  August,  1798,  Talleyrand  communi- 
cated to  him  the  willingness  of  government  to  receive  a  minister 
from  the  United  States,  if  choice  should  be  made  of  one  free  from 
prejudice  against  the  interests  of  France;  and,  at  the  same  time, 
renounced  all  the  more  objectionable  preliminaries  to  negotiations, 
before  so  pertinaciously  urged.  About  the  same  time,  decrees  were 
passed  for  sectiring  American  vessels  against  unauthorized  seizures 
by  French  privateers. 

Tn  answer  to  these  overtures,  the  senate,  upon  nomination  of 
President  Adams,  in  February  of  1799,  appointed  Mr.  Murray,  min- 
ister at  the  Ilagne,  jointly  with  Judge  Marshall  and  Patiick  Uenry, 
to  undertake  a  new  mission  to  France,  a  condition  being  annexed 
that  intimation  must  be  given  by  that  nation  of  a  favourable  reception 
before  they  should  enter  the  French  territory.  General  Davie,  of 
North  Carolina,  took  the  place  of  Uenry,  who  declined  serving  on 
account  of  bodily  infirmities. 

These  negotiations  were  slowly  perfected,  and,  in  the  interim, 
many  encounters  took  place  at  sea,  between  private  armed  vessels 
of  the  two  nations.  Those  employed  in  the  American  merchant  ser- 
vice, generally  availed  themselves  of  the  permission  accorded  by 
congress  to  carry  arms,  and  the  spirit  of  privateering,  perhaus  to 


846 


AMERICA  ILLUSTEATED. 


be  considered  a  national  predilection,  was  gratified  by  tlie  seizure 
of  many  prizes.  In  February,  1799,  an  action  was  fought  at  sea, 
near  the  island  of  St.  Kitt's,  between  the  United  States  frigate  Con- 
stellation, and  the  French  frigate  L'Insurgente,  in  which  the  latter 
after  a  severe  contest,  was  captured,  and  sent  a  prize  to  America. 

Upon  communication  through  Talleyrand,  of  the  readiness  of  the 
government  to  receive  American  envoys,  Marshall  and  Davie  were 
directed,  by  the  president,  to  embark  forthwith,  notwithstanding 
vehement  objections  from  a  portion  of  the  cabinet,  grounded  upon 
the  uncertainty  of  affairs  in  France,  consequential  upon  a  recent 
change  in  the  Directory. 

The  death  of  General  "Washington,  which  occurred  on  the  14th 
of  December,  1799,  silenced,  for  a  brief  period,  the  clamour  of  party 
contention,  and  all,  except  a  few  among  the  most  violent  and  pre- 
judiced of  his  former  opponents,  united  to  honour  his  memory  by 
public  testimonials  of  respect  and  gratitude. 

The  new  revolution  of  affairs  in  France,  and  the  elevation  of  Na- 
poleon to  the  office  of  First  Consul,  occurring  at  this  epoch,  augured 
favourably  for  the  establishment  of  permanent  peace  with  France. 
Meanwhile,  the  national  pride  of  the  United  States  was  farther 
gratified  by  intelligence  of  the  prowess  of  the  Constellation  in  an- 
other engagement  with  the  French  frigate  La  Vengeance,  a  vessel 
of  greatly  superior  force.  Although  the  latter  escajied,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  loss  of  a  mast  by  the  Constellation,  she  was  so  much 
damaged  that  she  was  condemned  upon  arrival  at  port.  The  loss 
of  men  on  board  the  French  vessel  was  four  times  greater  than  that 
suffered  by  the  Americans,  amounting  to  about  one  hundred  and 
sixty  in  killed  and  wounded.     The  engagement  took  place  in  Feb- 


ruary, 


1800. 


The  United  States'  ambassadors  were  received  by  the  First  Consul, 
witli  distinguished  consideration,  in  the  ensuing  month  of  March. 
Talleyrand  was  still  at  the  head  of  the  department  for  foreign  aflairs, 
but  a  special  comriiission,  in  whieli  he  liad  no  sliare,  was  appointed 
to  treat  on  the  })art  of  the  French  government.  Bound  down  b_y 
stringent  instructions,  the  envoys  could  enter  into  no  conclusive 
arrangement,  but  a  temporary  convention  was  agreed  U[)on,  that, 
until  the  negotiation  could  bo  completed  and  a  new  treaty  entered 
into,  the  ships  of  cither  nation  were  to  bo  safe  from  seizure  under 
flie  late  unreasonable  decrees. 

Provision  was  also  made  for  rGeonveyancc  of  prizes  nut  already 


THE   UNITED   STATES. 


347 


condemned,  and  of  captured  national  vessels,  and  preliminary  agree- 
ments wete  arranged  for  the  future  discharge  of  private  claims  against 
either  government.  These  results  were  not  arrived  at  before  the 
month  of  October  of  the  same  year.  They  afterwards  formed  the 
basis  for  the  conclusion  of  a  satisfactory  treaty. 

When  congress  came  together  in  November,  the  pub'ic  buildings 
at  Washington  were  sufficiently  advanced  to  serve  the  purposes 
designed,  and  the  session  was  held  accordingly  at  the  new  capitol. 
The  approaching  presidential  election  was  the  all-absorbing  topic  of 
interest,  inasmuch  as  a  grand  trial  of  strength  was  expected  between 
the  two  political  parties.  President  Adams  had  lost  popularity  by 
the  strong  measures  adopted  in  anticipation  of  war  with  France,  his 
course  not  appearing  justified  by  the  subsequent  turn  of  events. 

The  respective  candidates  for  the  offices  of  president  and  vice- 
president,  were  Adams  and  Pinckney,  on  the  side  of  the  federals; 
while  Jefferson,  and  the  talent^  but  intriguing  and  unprincipled 
Colonel  Aaron  Burr,  stood  forth  as  representatives  of  the  republicans. 
The  latter  were  successful,  but  as  they  received  an  equal  number  of 
votes,  by  the  existing  constitutional  regulation,  selection  devolved 
upon  the  house  of  representatives.  The  votes  were  taken  by  states, 
and  it  was  not  until  after  thirty-five  divisions,  that  either  candidate 
could  secure  a  majority.  The  contest  terminated  at  the  thirty-sixth 
balloting,  on  the  17th  of  February,  1801.  Jefferson  obtained  the 
majority,  and  was  declared  president  accordingly.  Burr  entered 
upon  the  office  of  vice-president. 

With  the  accession  of  Jefferson  commenced  that  system  of  removal 
from  office  of  political  opponents  to  the  administration,  which,  with 
a  greater  or  less  degree  of  personal  favoritism,  has  been  the  estab- 
lished policy  upon  every  succeeding  revolution  of  parties.  The 
changes  arbitrarily  introduced  by  the  new  president  were  mostly 
Buch  as  were  absolutely  essential  for  the  establishment  of  a  necessary 
unanimity  in  the  departments,  and  a  cordial  cooperation  in  the  new 
principles  of  government.  The  displacement  of  certain  federal  in- 
cumbents of  inferior  offices,  gave  occasion  for  great  complaint,  as 
being  uncalled  for,  and  the  result  of  mere  party  prejudice.  With 
our  juvsciit  experience  of  what  may  result  from  a  retaliatory  spirit, 
we  must  look  upon  these  removals  by  Jefferson  as  being  conducted 
with  distinguished  moderation. 

The  introduction  of  economical  reform  in  the  expenses  of 
government  received  the  first  attention  of  the  new  administration. 


■'? 


348 


AMERICA  ILLISTKATED. 


The  navy  was  reduced,  and  its  place,  to  a  certain  extent,  supplied  by 
gun-boats,  built  for  harbour  defence — the  inefficiency  of  which,  after- 
wards demonstrated,  gave  occasion  for  much  ridicule.  In  respect  to 
matters  more  particularly  within  the  cognizance  of  a  landsman  and 
one  unacquainted  with  the  practical  conduct  of  military  affixirs,  the 
economical  policy  of  Jefferson  was  wisely  and  judiciously  enforced. 
The  obnoxious  excise  laws,  and  the  land-tax,  were  repealed,  by 
means  of  which  a  great  number  of  petty  but  expensive  offices  were 
annulled;  additional  federal  courts,  created  under  the  former  admin- 
istration, were  done  away  with;  and  provision  was  made  for  the 
reduction  and  eventual  payment  of  the  public  debt — the  existence 
of  which  was  supposed  to  give  undue  influence  to  the  treasury 
department. 

In  1802,  the  state  of  Ohio,  whitber  a  great  influx  of  emigrants  had 
poured  since  the  partial  extingnisliment  of  the  Indian  title,  was 
admitted  into  the  Union  by  act  q|  congress,  and  commenced  its 
separate  existence  as  a  sovereign  state  early  in  the  following  spring. 

The  transfer  of  the  immense  territory  of  Louisiana  from  Spain  to 
France,  and  the  negotiation  through  which  its  purchase  was  effected, 
by  the  United  States  in  1803,  have  been  already  detailed  in  that 
portion  of  this  work  devoted  to  toe  French  settlements  in  America. 
No  event  could  have  been  of  greater  importance  to  our  western  states 
and  territories  than  this.  The  pofiseseion  by  any  foreign  nation  of 
the  outlet  to  the  main  channel  of  communication  to  this  vast  region, 
must  have  caused  continual  conflict  of  interest,  and  endangered  the 
preservation  of  friendly  relations  between  the  parties  concerned. 
Experience  had  shown  that  the  binding  force  of  treaties  'Vas  insuffi- 
cient to  secure  our  citizens  in  their  stipulated  rights,  while  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi  was  commanded  bj  the  agents  of  European  powers. 


THE   UNITED   STATES.  349 

I 


AMKBICAX  FLEET  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN. — EXPEDITION  01 

EATOX  ASD  HAMET  AGAINST  TRIPOLI. TREATY  CONCLUDED. 

— JEFFEBSON'S  Ri-ELECTION. — BURR'S  DUEL  "WITH  BAM- 
ILT05;HIS  WESTERN  ENTERPRISE:  HIS  TRIAL. 

The  mcKt  interesting  events,  connected  with  foreign  affairs,  during 
the  first  term  of  Jefferson's  presidency,  are  those  relating  to  difficul- 
ties still  existing  with  the  Barbary  states.  That  the  maritime  nations 
of  Europe,  and  the  United  States  in  pursuance  of  their  example, 
should  have  so  long  submitted  to  the  degradation  of  purchasing 
peace  from  the  piratical  barbarians  of  northern  Africa,  seems  utterly 
unaccountable,  particularly  as  such  concessions  only  aggravated  their 
insolence,  and  encouraged  them,  from  time  to  time,  to  increase  their 
demands. 

An  American  frigate,  commanded  by  Bainbridge,  in  the  autumn 
of  the  year  1800,  was  compelled  by  the  Dey  of  Algiers  to  serve  as 
a  transport  for  the  transmission  of  presents,  &c.,  to  Constantinople ; 
the  remonstrances  of  the  captain  were  met  by  the- most  arrogant  and 
insolent  expressions  of  superiority. 

The  state  of  Tripoli,  in  the  year  following  this  event,  commenced 
open  hostilities  against  American  commerce — the  reigning  prince 
having  become  dissatisfied  with  the  terms  upon  which  his  favour 
had  been  bought  In  the  summer  of  1802  a  squadron  under  com- 
mand of  Commodore  Morris  was  dispatched  against  the  belligerent 
iiation.  A  partial  blockade  and  some  unimportant  captures  were 
the  only  advantages  gained  during  this  season. 

During  the  summer  of  the  following  year  a  larger  naval  force 
under  Cornmoflore  Preble  arrived  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  blockade  the  harbour  of  Tripoli.  The  frigate  rhiladcljihia, 
commanded  by  Baiiibridge,  arrived  first  at  the  station.  Unfortu- 
nately, while  in  pursuit  of  a  Tripolitan  vessel,  she  struck  upon  a  rock. 
Vain  efforts  were  made  to  Hghten  and  heave  her  off,  during  which 
operation  she  was  surrounded  by  gun-boats  of  the  enemy.  The 
frigate  heeled  so  far  that  her  guns  were  useless,  and  she  became  a 
prize  to  the  Trijxjlitans.    They  got  her  off  safely,  and  took  her  into 


f 


'! 


■■II 


350 


AMEEICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


the  harboar,  making  prisoners  of  all  on  board.  The  officers  alone 
were  exempted  from  a  condition  of  slavery. 

This  capture  gave  occasion  for  a  brilliant  exploit.  Lieutenant 
Decatur,  with  a  small  vessel  recently  taken  from  the  enemy,  and 
manned  by  volunteers  from  the  American  frigate  Enterprise,  then 
lying  at  Syracuse,  undertook  to  destroy  the  Philadelphia.  On  the 
night  of  February  16th,  1804,  the  Tripolitan  crew  on  board  the 
frigate  were  hailed  in  their  own  language  from  a  small  craft,  appar- 
ently of  their  nation,  whose  approach  was  regarded  without  suspicion. 
Under  the  excuse  that  she  had  lost  her  anchors,  the  stranger  was 
permitted  to  come  alongside  and  make  fast  to  the  ship.  Her  true 
character  was  immediately  ascertained:  the  Americans,  rushing  on 
board,  in  the  confusion  attendant  upon  the  first  alarm,  drove  the  crew 
overboard,  fired  the  vessel,  and  effected  a  safe  retreat. 

An  achievement  of  a  still  more  remarkable  and  romantic  character 
was  accomplished  in  the  following  year  by  William  Eaton,  Consul 
for  the  United  States  at  Tunis,  Jessuf,  the  Bashaw  of  Tripoli,  was 
a  younger  brother;  he  had  driven  Hamet,  the  rightful  incumbent  of 
the  throne,  into  exile;  and  with  the  latter,  Eaton,  by  authority  from 
the  United  States,  entered  into  correspondence  for  the  purpose  of 
planning  a  land  expedition  from  Egypt  into  Tripoli,  and  expelling 
the  usurper. 

A  little  band  of  Arabs,  Tripolitan  refugees  of  Hamet's  party,  and 
Christian  adventurers,  numbering  in  all  only  about  four  hundred 
men,  set  out  from  the  vicinity  of  Alexandria,  early  in  the  spring  of 
1805.  The  passage  of  the  intervening  desert  was  not  completed 
until  the  latter  part  of  April,  the  march  being  attended  with  extreme 
suffering  and  destitution.  The  invaders  arriving  at  Derne,  with  the 
cooperation  of  American  vessels  lying  in  the  harbour,  took  forcible 
possession  of  the  town,  and  held  it  against  the  main  Tripolitan  force, 
by  which  they  were  attacked  a  fortnight  later. 

While  thus  in  the  full  tide  of  success,  the  hopes  of  Hamet  and  bis 
enterprising  ally  were  crushed  by  the  conclusion  of  a  treaty  between 
the  United  States  and  Tripoli,  by  which  Jessuf  was  left  in  undisturbed 
possession  of  his  sovereignty.  A  large  sum  was  paid  for  the  ransoir 
of  captives  remaining  in  the  power  of  the  bashaw,  after  the  accom- 
plishment of  an  equal  exchange  for  those  prisoners  taken  by  the 
Americans. 

Prior  to  the  conclusion  of  these  events,  a  new  pr^'-i^>  tial  election 
in  the  United  States,  had  resulted  in  Jefferson's  contmuaucc  in  ofRce 


THE  UNITED   STATES. 


Sol 


for  a  second  term.  George  Clinton  of  New  York  was  chosen  vice- 
president  in  place  of  Burr.  The  latter,  in  the  summer  of  1804-,  en- 
raged against  Hamilton  on  account  of  influence  brought  to  bear 
against  him  as  candidate  for  the  office  of  governor  of  New  York, 
sought  a  quarrel  with  his  political  opponent,  which  resulted  in  a 
duel.  Hamilton  fell  mortally  wounded  at  the  first  fire.  The  cir- 
cumstance that  Burr  was  the  aggressor,  as  well  as  the  challenging 
party,  with  a  general  suspicion  of  his  previous  integrity  and  good 
faith,  aroused  such  public  indignation  that  he  was  obliged  to  leave 
the  state.  Politically  dead  in  the  United  States,  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion thenceforth  to  deeper  and  more  desperate  intrigues,  to  which, 
a  little  anticipating  the  order  of  events,  we  may  here  advert. 

In  concert  with  one  Blennerhasset,"  an  Irishman  of  considerable 
property,  who  had  established  himself  upon  an  island  in  the  Ohio 
rivei  near  ^farietta,  Burr,  it  would  appear,  formed  magnificent 
schemes  for  revolutionizing  the  western  country,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  a  separate  government,  as  well  as  for  an  invasion  of  the 
Spanish  province  of  Mexico.  By  personal  interviews  with  leading 
men  who  were  supposed  to  be  disaffected  towards  the  administration, 
by  mysterious  Tetters,  calculated  to  arouse  cupidity  and  excite  indefi- 
nite hopes,  and  by  negotiations  through  agents  in  whom  he  placed 
very  variant  degrees  of  confidence,  he  succeeded  in  exciting  a  state  of 
feverish  anticipation  of  some  great,  but  indeterminate  political  change, 
about  to  take  place. 

Being  a  man  of  consummate  abilities,  and  of  a  remarkably  pleasing 
address,  he  acquired  great  influence  over  those  with  whom  he  held 
familiar  intercourse,  and  while  he  could  mould  inferior  minds  to  his 
own  views,  he  was  always  able  to  conceal  his  own  true  purposes. 
Perhaps  no  political  intrigue  ever  occupied  such  universal  attention, 
as  the  one  of  which  we  are  speaking,  without  its  purport  eventually 
becoming  more  clearly  apparent. 

When  Burr  first  began  to  collect  forces,  it  was  under  the  guise 
of  procuring  emigrants  to  occupy  a  tract  on  the  Ouachita,  in  Louis- 
iana, to  which  he  had  purchased  a  doubtful  claim.  In  December, 
1806,  with  about  one  hundred  men — who  were  probably  as  much 
in  the  dark  as  to  the  true  destiiuition  and  purposes  of  the  expedition 
as  the  public  at  large — he  passed  down  the  Ohio  in  a  number  of 
covered  flat-boats.  The  agents  of  government  were  on  the  alert, 
and  his  projects  were  by  this  time  universally  can  viewed,  and  entered 
more  or  less  into  the  political  controversies  of  the  day. 
Vol.   IV.-51 


352 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


At  Natchez,  Burr  submitted  to  the  requisitions  of  the  territorial 
civil  authorities,  and  the  charges  against  him  were  investigated 
by  the  intervention  of  a  grand  jury  at  Washington,  the  capital  of 
the  Mississippi  territory.  Nothing  could  be  established  by  any 
direct  evideuce,  and  he  was  acquitted.  Meanwhile,  General  Wil- 
kinson, the  military  commander  at  New  Orleans,  to  whom  Burr  had 
previously  made  many  overtures,  had  arbitrarily  arrested  several 
of  the  agents  commissioned  by  the  latter,  and  was  enforcing  a 
species  of  martial  law,  in  anticipation  of  the  expected  invasion  or 
revolution. 

Further  conduct  of  the  expedition  was  unsafe,  and  Burr,  dis- 
missing his  followers,  attempted  to  make  his  escape  into  Florida 
He  was  arrested  near  the  Tombigbee  river,  and  taken  prisoner  to 
Eichmond,  where  he  was  bailed,  upon  the  charge  of  violating  the 
neutrality  law,  by  enlisting  forces  to  invade  a  peaceful  nation.  He 
was  subsequently  indicted  by  a  grand  jury  for  high  treason  in  levy- 
ing war  against  the  United  States.  The  trial,  after  much  delay  in 
vexatious  preliminaries,  took  place  in  August,  1807,  Chief-Justice 
Marshall  presiding.  Sufficient  evidence  could  not  be  obtained  to 
sustain  the  charge,  and  a  verdict  of  acquittal  followed.  The  same 
result  attended  the  trial  upon  the  charge  of  a  violation  of  the  neu- 
trality act. 

All  concerned  were  held  amenable  to  the  provisions  of  the  latter 
law  in  any  district  where  an  overt  act,  falling  within  its  prohibi- 
tions, should  have  been  committed.  Held  to  bail  in  Ohio,  upon  the 
same  accusation.  Burr  and  Blennerhasset  both  forfeited  their  bonds. 

The  former  soon  after  sailed  for  Europe,  and  passed  many  years 
in  fruitless  endeavours  to  carry  out  schemes  of  personal  aggrandize- 
ment in  France  and  England.  He  returned  to  spend  the  latt»^v 
years  of  his  life  in  the  obscure  practice  of  law  in  his  own  state. 


THE   UNITED    STATES. 


858 


u<tXin>Jrai<l!jiU     lAiX 


ENGLISH  AGGRESSIONS.  —  FAILURE  OP  NEGOTIATION.  —  ATTACK 

ON   THE   FRIGATE   CHESAPEAKE. EMBARGO. NON-TNTER- 

COURSE   ACT. ABOLITION   OP   THE   SLAVE-TRADE. — JOHN 

RANDOLPH.  —  "WEST   FLORIDA. CONCESSIONS   OP   NAPO- 
LEON.—  BRITISH    CRUISERS:    THE    LITTLE   BELT. 

TECUMSEH:    ELSKWATA WA:    BATTLE   OP   TIPPECANOE. 
—  EAST    FLORIDA.  —  DECLARATION    OF    WAR. 


Throughout  the  closing  term  of  Jefferson's  administration,  the 
disturbed  state  of  affairs  in  Europe  was  disastrously  felt  in  America; 
in  carrying  out  schemes  of  mutual  aggression,  the  two  great  belliger- 
ent powers  were  utterly  regardless  of  the  rights  and  interests  of 
neutral  nations.  "It  was  in  vain  that  the  government  of  the  United 
States  expostulated  with  them.  To  England  it  denied  having  sub- 
mitted to  the  decrees  of  the  French  ruler;  and  to  the  latter  it  rep- 
resented the  indefeasible  rights  of  neutrals.  'Join  with  me  in 
bringing  England  to  reason,'  was  the  reply  of  Bonaparte,  who  was 
blind  to  all  objects  and  reasons,  except  that  of  humbling  his  arch- 
enemy. America  was,  in  consequence,  left  to  choose  which  of  the 
belligerents  she  should  take  for  foes,  since  both  at  once  might  prove 
too  powerful  for  her,  and  neutrality,  persevered  in,  only  exposed  her 
vessels  to  capture,  without  retaliation — to  the  disadvantages,  in  fact, 
without  the  advantages  of  war."  "The  great  powers  of  the  land 
and  sea,  unable  to  measure  their  strength,  since  each  was  predom- 
inant on  its  own  element,  came  to  vent  their  blows  on  America."* 

When,  by  the  Berlin  decree,  of  November,  1S06,  the  emperor,  in 
retaliation  for  a  similar  assumption  in  respect  to  France,  had 
pronounced  Great  Britain  to  be  in  a  state  of  blockade,  and  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  latter  had  extended  her  former  decree  to  all  the 
dependencies  and  allies  of  France,  the  commerce  of  the  United 
States  was,  in  efTect,  annihilated.  There  were  not,  however,  want- 
ing causes  for  a  strong  discrimination,  in  the  minds  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, between  the  spirit  and  motives  which  actuated  the  several 
aggressing  nations. 

The  conduct  of  the  naval  officers  in  the  British  service,  generally 

•  Lardner's  Cabinet  CyclopscdLo. 


■;! 

d 

i 

i 

i 

Bo4 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


insolent  and  overbearing  towards  the  American  marine,  had  been 
growing  more  and  more  intolerable.  The  impressment  of  seamen 
from  United  States'  merchant  vessels  continued  and  increased,  not- 
withstanding the  remonstrances  of  government,  and  a  representa- 
tion of  the  fact,  that  many  American  citizens  were  thus  enslaved  for 
foreign  service. 

In  -hopes  to  effect  some  modification  in  the  former  treaty,  by 
which  these  illegal  seizures  might  be  checked,  and  the  commerce  of 
America  be  freed  from  the  more  oppressive  restrictions,  Messrs. 
Monroe  and  Pinckney  were  commissioned  as  ambassadors  to  Eng- 
land in  1806.  They  arranged  a  treaty  accordingly,  but,  as  nothing 
was  yielded  by  the  British  government  respecting  the  more  import- 
ant points  of  controversy,  the  president,  without  communicating  with 
the  senate,  refused  to  ratify. 

While  attempts  at  negotiation  failed,  the  course  pursued  by  the 
English  \;ruisers,  in  carrying  out  their  instructions  to  watch  the 
American  coast,  assumed  an  appearance  more  than  jver  offensive. 
A  direct  attack  upon  a  national  vessel,  finally  called  for  some  deci- 
sive action.  The  Chesapeake,  an  American  frigate,  ivas  dispatched 
in  the  month  of  June,  1807,  to  the  Mediterranean.  Just  without 
the  capes  of  the  Chesapeake,  she  was  hailed  by  the  Leopard,  an 
English  man-of-war.  Upon  heaving  to,  a  boat  soon  came  alontr. 
side,  and  a  message  was  delivered  from  the  captain  of  the  Leopard, 
demanding  permission  to  search  for  certain  deserters,  known  or  sus- 
pected to  be  on  board  the  American  ve-s.^el.  Specific  orders  to  this 
effect  had  been  given  by  the  British  Admiral  Berkeley. 

The  demand  not  b'cing  complied  with,  the  Leopard,  havinf  taken 
a  favourable  position,  without  further  parley,  first  fired  two  succes- 
sive single  shots,  the  first,  across  the  bows  of  the  Chesapeake,  and 
then  poured  in  several  broadsides,  by  which  three  men  were  killed 
a  number  wounded,  and  much  damage  was  done  to  the  vessel.  The 
commander,  Barron,  his  ship  not  being  ready  for  action,  was  unable 
to  resist,  and  therefore  struck  his  flag.  Several  ofTieors  from  the 
Leo[)ard  then  came  on  board;  the  crew  of  the  Chesapeake  were 
examined,  and  four  were  taken  away  prisoners,  as  deserters  from 
tlie  British  service.  One  of  tliem  was  afterwards  han^^ed  for  de- 
sertion; the  three  others  (coloured  men)  proved  to  be  American 
citizens.     The  Chesapeake  immediately  returned  to  Norfolk. 

President  JclTerson  promptly  issued  a  proclamation,  orderin"-  all 
British  armed  vessels  to  leave  the  waters  of  the  L'nited  Stales,  and 


THE   UNITED   STATFl, 


856 


prohibiting  further  intercourse  with  them.  Demand  was  made  m* 
the  British  government  for  redress,  and  for  future  guarantee  i  t 
American  vessels  should  be  no  longer  searched  for  pur[)os^'-  *" 
impressment.  The  attack  on  the  Chesapeake — being  totally  i 
cusable,  although  similar  acts  had  been  previously  committed,  on 
several  occasions,  by  British  vessels — was  at  once  disavowed,  and 
full  reparation  was  tendered ;  but  upon  the  other  point,  no  concession 
whatever  was  made.  New  and  more  stringent  orders  instead,  were 
issued  for  the  siezure  of  British  mariners  in  foreign  service;  and,  in 
case  such  should  be  known  to  be  on  board  national  vessels  of  a 
neutral,  precise  instructions  were  given  to  make  report  thereof  to 
the  British  admiralty. 

Congress  was  called  together  at  an  earlier  day  than  the  regular 
commencement  of  the  session,  and,  after  much  discussion,  a  general 
embargo  was  laid  (December,  1807),  to  continue  indefinitely,  by 
which  American  vessels  were  prohibited  from  leaving  port.  The 
enforcement  of  this  s\'stem,  however  necessary,  occasioned  great 
commercial  distress,  and  gave  much  dissatisfaction  in  New  England. 
The  embargo  was,  to  a  certain  extent,  evaded  by  the  more  adven- 
turous; but  the  retaliatory  decrees  of  France  and  England  had  been 
extended  to  such  an  extreme  of  exclusion,  that  no  vessel  trading 
to  Europe  or  the  West  Indies  could  be  safe  from  seizure. 

The  prospect  of  an  amicable  arrangement  appeared  less  than  ever. 
Throughout  the  year  1808,  nothing  was  heard  but  complaints  of 
the  oppressive  embargo.  At  the  winter  session  of  congress,  in 
1808-9,  the  whole  subject  was  debated,  and,  in  place  of  the  embaigo, 
a  prohibition  of  intercourse  with  France  and  England  was  concluded 
upon — trade  with  other  countries  of  Europe  being  left  open.  A  pro- 
vision was  also  appended,  giving  the  presiderjt  powor  to  suspend 
this  restriction  as  to  either  nation  which  should  conform  to  the 
requisitions  of  the  United  States,  by  a  withdrawal  of  the  obnoxious 
edicts  or  orders  in  council.  This  change  was  accomplished  just 
before  the  close  of  Jefferson's  administration.  In  accordance  with 
the  example  of  Washington,  he  had  declined  being  a  candidate  for 
a  third  presidential  term.  The  republican  party,  retaining  theii 
ascendancy,  elected  James  Madison,  late  secretary  of  state,  to  the 
office  of  president:  Clinton  was  again  chosen  vice-president. 

One  very  important  event,  not  noticed  in  the  order  of  its  occur- 
rence, was  the  passage,  by  congress,  of  an  act  prohibiting  the  intro- 
duction of  slaves  after  the  1st  of  January,  1808 — the  constitutional 


1 

i 

:| 

. 

i 

856 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


limit  within  which  no  restraining  law  could  be  enacted,  upon  this 
subject,  other  than  the  imposition  of  a  specified  duty  upon  all  im- 
ported. Severe  penalties  were  affixed  to  the  direct  importation  of 
slaves,  attaching,  although  in  less  degree,  to  the  buyer  who  should 
be  cognizant  of  the  illegal  introduction;  and  the  transportation  of 
slaves  by  sea  from  one  port  to  another  in  the  United  States,  was 
regulated  and  restrained.  Slaves  thenceforth  imported,  were  to  be 
seized,  and  to  "remain  subject  to  any  regulation  or  disposal,  not 
contrary  to  the  provisions  of  this  act,  which  mighu  be  made  by  the 
respective  states  and  territories." 

In  the  debate  upon  this  subject,  a  prominent  part  was  taken,  in 
behalf  of  the  slave-holding  interest,  by  John  Eandolph,  a  young 
member  from  Virginia,  whose  remarkable  talents  and  brilliant  ora- 
tory might  have  given  him  a  position  of  great  eminence,  but  for  a 
singular  vein  of  misanthropic  eccentricity  which  pervaded  his  whole 
character,  and  for  an  unparalleled  degree  of  habitual  insolence  and 
assumption.  Belonging  originally  to  the  republican  party,  he  was 
of  the  number  of  those  who  seceded  from  the  principles  adopted  by 
the  administration,  and  during  Jefferson's  closing  term,  headed  a 
powerful  opposition  to  the  measures  adopted  in  retaliation  for  Brit- 
ish aggression. 

The  first  communications  opened  with  Great  Britain,  after  Madi- 
son's inauguration,  gave  promise  of  a  speedy  settlement  of  difficulties. 
Mr.  Erskine,  the  British  minister,  over-stepping  the  limits  of  his 
instructions  from  Secretary  Canning,  stipulated  on  behalf  of  his 
government,  that  the  odious  commercial  orders  in  council  should 
be  withdrawn,  as  to  United  States' vessels,  upon  revocation  of  the 
uon-intercourse  act.  The  president,  in  conformity  with  the  powers 
expressly  conferred  upon  him,  suspended  the  act  accordingly. 

Several  preliminary  conditions,  upon  which  he  had  received  spe- 
cial instructions,  were  entirely  neglected  by  Erskine  in  this  nego- 
tiation. The  most  important  of  these  related  to  a  matter  long  in 
dispute,  viz:  whether,  in  time  of  war,  a  neutral  could  carry  on  a 
trade  with  one  of  the  belligerent  parties,  of  a  character  prohibited 
by  such  nation  in  time  of  peace. 

Erskine's  stipulations  were,  therefore,  disavowed,  and  non-inter- 
course was  reestablished.  Provisions  were  made  by  the  Biiiish 
government  in  favour  of  such  vessels  as  might  have  availed  them- 
selves of  the  temporary  removal  of  restrictions.  Mutual  recrimina- 
tions in  respect  to  this  affixir,  aggravated  the  hostile  disj)Ositions  of 


THE  UNITED   STATES. 


357 


the  two  governments.  On  the  one  hand,  it  was  suggested  that  the 
United  States  had  been  cognizant  of  the  true  nature  of  the  instruc- 
tions given  to  the  British  ambassador,  while,  on  the  other,  the  refusal 
of  the  ministry  to  ratify  the  arrangement  concluded,  was  looked 
upon  as  "an  act  of  capricious  hostility."  Mr.  Jackson,  successor  to 
Mr.  Erskine,  upon  a  renewal  of  negotiation,  conducted  the  corres- 
■>ondence  in  a  manner  so  offensive,  that  his  recall  was  demanded, 
and  all  diplomatic  intercourse,  for  the  time,  was  suspended. 

During  the  autumn  of  1810,  the  settlers  in  that  portion  of  "West 
Florida  bordering  on  the  Mississippi,  following  the  example  of 
other  Spanish  American  colonies,  took  advantage  of  the  embarrassed 
position  of  the  home  government  to  rebel  against  the  Spanish  au- 
thorit-"es.  This  district  was  soon  after  occupied  by  the  United 
States,  under  claim  of  title,  by  virtue  of  former  treaties  of  transfer. 
Upon  the  expiration  of  the  non-intercourse  act,  in  1810,  propositions 
were  made  by  the  United  States  to  France  and  England  for  a  re- 
moval of  the  onerous  restrictions  upon  trade.  To  either  nation 
which  should  comply  with  this  requisition,  the  inducement  of  exclu- 
sive commercial  intercourse  was  held  out.  Napoleon,  willing  to 
yield  a  point  in  his  rigid  continental  system,  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  the  friendship  of  the  United  States,  and — a  matter  still 
more  to  his  taste — of  involving  them  in  war  with  England,  gave 
notice,  through  his  ministers,  that  American  vessels  should  be  free 
from  the  operation  of  the  sweeping  decrees  of  Berlin  and  Milan. 

Commerce  was  at  once  opened  with  France ;  but  the  British  gov- 
ernment, affecting  to  consider  the  suspension  of  the  French  decrees 
as  irregular,  temporary,  and  illusive,  declined  yielding  to  the  re- 
quirements of  the  United  States.  On  the  contrary,  national  jealousy 
being  aroused  by  the  prospect  of  an  advantageous  trade  between 
this  country  and  France,  renewed  vigilance  was  exercised,  and  a 
more  rigorous  search  instituted  by  the  numerous  British  cruisers  on 
the  American  coast.  . 

The  sloop-of-war  Little  Belt,  commanded  by  Captain  Bingham, 
while  engaged  in  this  service,  fell  in  with  the  American  frigate  Pres- 
ident, under  Commodore  Kodgers.  The  English  vessel  at  first  bore 
down  upon  the  American,  until  discovering  that  the  latter  was  of 
greater  force,  and  that  her  signals  were  not  answered,  she  stood 
away.  Pursutd  by  the  President,  she  hove  to,  and  both  vessels 
hailed,  as  appears,  nearly  simultaneously.  Neither  replied  except 
by  a  second  hail.     Upon  this  some  shots  were  fired — accounts  being 


;.-?■  V 


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f 


858 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


contradictory  as  to  Avhich  vessel  commenced — soon  succeeded  by  a 
general  cannonade  on  either  side,  in  which  the  Little  Belt  was  nearly 
disabled  and  lost  more  than  thirty  of  her  crew  in  killed  and  wounded 
Such  discrepancy  prevails  in  the  accounts  given  of  this  transaction, 
that  we  are  somewhat  at  a  loss  in  forming  conclusions  respecting 
its  merits. 

At  a  special  session  of  congress,  in  the  autumn  of  1811,  the  presi 
dent  set  forth,  in  a  message  to  that  body,  the  futility  of  all  attempts 
at  negotiation  with  Great  Britain,  the  enormous  injury  to  American 
commerce  eilected  by  her  exclusive  system,  the  vast  number  of  ves- 
sels in  the  United  States'  merchant  service  which  had  fallen  a  prey  to 
her  cruisers,  and  the  generally  aggressive  and  ungenerous  policy 
pursued  by  her  government.  "With  this  evidence,"  proceeded  the 
address,  "of  hostile  inflexibility,  in  trampling  upon  rights  which  no 
independent  nation  can  relinquish,  congress  will  feel  the  duty  of 
putting  the  United  States  into  an  armour  and  an  attitude  de 
mandcd  by  the  crisis,  and  corresponding  with  the  national  spirit 
and  expectations." 

This  call  was  responded  to,  by  a  decided  majority,  in  a  similar 
spirit.  Appropriations  were  made,  and  loans  authorized,  for  the 
enlargement  of  the  army,  ibr  fortilications,  and  the  accumulation  of 
military  stores.  The  navy  was  ordered  to  be  increased,  and  pro- 
visions were  made  lor  organizing  a  militia  force.  The  existence  of 
serious  disturbances  at  the  north-west,  attributed,  in  some  measure, 
to  British  influence  over  the  Indian  tribes,  added  to  the  hostile  feel- 
ing entertained  towards  Great  Britain. 

A  new  confederacy  had  been  long  forming  in  that  quarter, 
under  the  direction,  and  through  the  intrigues  of  the  celebrated 
Tecumsch  and  his  brother  Elskwatawa,  or  tho  Prophet.  The 
former,  at  this  period,  was  engaged  in  gaining  over  the  tribes  of  the 
southern  states  to  unite  in  a  magnificent  enterprise  for  the  recovery 
of  the  entire  valley,  of  the  Mississippi  from  the  whites.  The  pro- 
phet was  established  on  the  Tippecanoe,  a  tributary  of  the  Wa- 
bash, where  a  horde  of  his  followers  encamped  about  him,  and  kept 
the  country  in  terror  by  their  depredations. 

To  check  these  ravages,  Governor  Harrison,  with  a  force  of  about 
nine  hundred  men,  regulars,  militia,  and  volunteers,  marched  up 
the  Wabash  from  P'ort  llarrison,  at  the  close  of  October  (1811). 
He  encamped  on  the  5th  of  November,  within  nine  miles  of  tho 
prophet's  town,  and  attempted  to  negotiate  with  the  Indian  chief. 


THE    UNITED   STATES, 


359 


The  latter  proposed  a  truce,  for  the  purpose  of  a  conference  to  take 
place  on  the  day  following.  This  pacific  overture  was  merely  in- 
tended to  disarm  suspicion.  On  the  following  morning,  a  little 
before  day-break — the  time  always  selected  by  the  Indians,  for  a 
surprise — the  whole  force  under  command  of  the  prophet,  fell  upon 
the  American  encampment. 

Fortunately,  due  precautions  had  been  taken  for  a  timely  alarm, 
and  for  the  preservation  of  order  in  case  of  a  night  attack.  Although 
the  Indians  fought  with  astonishing  fury  and  determination,  they 
were  finally  driven  off  and  dispersed,  not  without  a  loss,  on  the 
part  of  the  wliites,  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  killed  and  wounded. 
The  American  troops  immediately  proceeded  to  the  Indian  settlement, 
and  accomplished  its  entire  destruction. 

Certain  disclosures,  communicated  to  :'ongres3  by  a  message  of  the 
president.  In  March,  1812,  relative  to  the  secret  agency  of  one  John 
Henry,  who,  several  years  previous,  had  been  commissioned  by  the 
governor  of  Canada  to  attempt  negotiation  with  the  New  England 
federalists,  excited  great  indignation  among  the  war  party.  It  would 
appear  that  for  a  time  undue  importance  was  attached  to  this  affair. 
The  president  jDaid  a  large  sum  of  money  from  the  secret  service  fund, 
to  secure  the  correspondence  between  Uenry  and  his  employer.  The 
principal  matter  of  the  communications  related  to  the  extent  to  v/hich 
the  anti-war  party  might  be  willing  to  push  their  opposition,  and  the 
possibilitv'  or  jirobability  of  a  secession  from  the  Union  by  the  com- 
mercial states  of  the  north,  in  the  event  of  their  political  defeat. 

In  the  month  of  April,  an  important  accession  to  the  southern  in- 
terest resultctl  from  the  admission  of  the  new  state  of  Louisiana, 
including  tiiat  portion  of  West  Florida  already  occupied  by  the 
United  States.  The  Spanish  possessions  in  East  Florida  were  en- 
dangered, at  the  same  period,  by  an  outbreak  encouraged  and  pro- 
moted by  the  American  general,  Matthews.  A  strong  party  in 
congress — even  a  majority  in  the  house — was  in  favour  of  taking 
forcible  possession  of  this  territory;  but  a  bill  for  that  purpose  was 
lost  in  the  senate. 

A  })rospeet  of  speedy  hostilities  with  America,  gave  rise  to  a  strong 
opposition  in  the  British  parliament,  to  the  measures  of  government; 
and  strenuous  exertions  were  made  to  effect  a  comjiliance  with  the 
principal  requisitions  of  the  United  States.  These  movements  on 
the  part  of  the  friends  of  peace  and  of  the  rights  of  neutrals,  it  has 
been  said,  might  have  terminated  in  sueh  concession  as  would  have 


•li 


860 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


satisfied  tlie  latter,  if  patience  had  been  a  little  farther  extended. 
At  the  close  of  May,  1812,  recent  intelligence  having  been  received 
from  England,  and  no  prospect  appearing  of  a  disposition  on  the  part 
of  government  to  yield  the  questions  in  dispute,  President  Madison 
sent  in  a  message  recommending  immediate  declaration  of  war. 

The  senate  promptly  concurred  with  the  recommendation;  in  the 
house,  the  question,  after  about  a  fortnight's  consideration,  resulted 
in  the  same  conclusion.  The  debate  was  conducted  with  closed 
doors.  On  the  18th  of  June,  war  was  formally  declared  with  Great 
Britain.  To  this  act  most  strenuous  opposition  was  made  by  the 
federal  party.  In  those  portions  of  the  United  States  most  depend- 
ant upon  commerce,  a  violent  outcry  was  raised  against  a  measure, 
which,  although  specially  called  for  by  foreign  aggressions  upon 
their  rights  and  interest,  threatened  to  increase  their  present  diffi- 
culties, while  it  imposed  upon  the  country  at  large  an  enormous 
burden  of  additional  expense. 


RIOTS  AT  BALTIMORE.  —  HULL'S  INVASION   OF  CANADA. — HE- 
PEAL  OF  THE  ORDERS  IN  COUNCIL:  IMPRESSMENT. NATAL 

OPERATIONS.  —  MADISON'S  RKE LECTION. — NORTH-WfiST- 

ERN   CAMPAIGN.    DEFEAT   OF    WINCHESTER. ATTACK 

ON   YORK.  —  THE   BRITISH  ON   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

"While  expressions  of  indignation  and  regret  were  every  where 
heard  tliroughout  tho.se  portions  of  the  country  where  the  war  was 
unpopular,  and  signs  of  public  mourning  appeared  in  the  flags  of  a 
usclo.s.s  shipping  hoisted  at  half  mast,  the  war-party  in  other  districts 
exhibited  .still  more  violent  feeling.  At  Baltimore,  tlic  most  disgrace- 
ful scenes  of  brutal  outrage  occurred,  in  connection  with  the  suppren* 
pion  by  a  mob  of  a  federal  news-paper,  which  persisted  in  opposing 
popular  opinion.  The  editor,  Hanson,  with  a  number  of  friend.^,  in 
defence  of  his  house,  attacked  by  an  infuriate  populace,  fired  upon 
the  assailant,'^,  one  of  whom  was  killed. 

The  municipal  authorities  at  last  appeared,  with  an  armed  force. 
ond,  to  appease  the  mob,  Hanson  and  his  companiona  consented  to 


THE  UNITED    STATES. 


361 


l)C  takon  to  prison,  >  answer  to  any  cliarge  that  might  be  substan- 
tiated against  them.  The  following  right  the  jail  was  broken  into, 
and  a  number  of  these  prisoners,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  rioters, 
were  most  barbarously  beaten,  wounded,  and  tormented.  One  of 
the  number,  General  Lingan,  an  old  revolutionary  soldier,  died  under 
their  hands;  the  others  were  left  for  dead,  and  some  never  recovered 
from  the  injuries  received.  The  perpetrators  of  this  cowardly  and 
villanous  outrage  received  no  punishment;  some  of  the  f)remost  in 
the  transaction  were  tried  and  acquitted  by  ajury  of  the  neighbourhood. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  new  army,  the  chief  command  was 
bestowed  upon  General  Ilenry  Dearborn,  of  Massachusetts,  an  officer 
of  the  revolution.  At  the  south,  Thomas  Pinckney,  of  South  Carolina, 
was  created  major-general,  and  invested  with  the  chief  command  in 
that  quarter.  The  first  attention  of  the  government  was  directed  to 
an  expedition  into  Canada,  where,  it  was  believed,  the  disaffection  of 
the  inhabitants  towards  Great  Britain  would  render  it  easy  to  obtain 
a  foothold.  A  force  of  nearly  two  thousand  men,  under  Brigadier- 
General  Hull,  governor  of  the  territory  of  Michigan,  entered  Canada 
West  on  the  12th  of  Jul}',  crossing  over  from  Detroit  to  Sandwich. 

The  first  object  of  attack  was  the  British  fort  at  Maiden,  near  the 
debouchement  of  Detroit  river — the  strait  connecting  Lakes  St.  Clair 
and  Ph'ie.  Owing  to  delay  on  the  part  of  Hull,  opportunity  was 
given  for  strengthening  the  garrison  at  this  place. 

While  the  army  remained  inactive,  about  the  middle  of  July,  the 
American  f^rt  at  Michilimackinac  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
and,  shortly  aftci,  communication  by  the  land  route  with  Ohio,  was 
entirely  cut  o*^'  .  /  a  party  of  Indians  under  Tecumseh.  Hull  there- 
fore recrosscd  the  river,  witli  his  entire  force,  and  occupied  Detroit. 
General  Proctor,  in  command  at  ^lalden,  was  enabled  to  cooperate 
with  his  Indian  allies,  and  renewed  attempts  on  the  part  of  the 
Americans  to  force  a  passage  of  the  road,  only  resulted  in  heavy  loss. 

Toward  the  middle  of  August,  General  Brock,  governor  of  Lower 
Canada,  having  hastened  to  the  scene  of  action,  assumed  command, 
and  advanced  upon  Detroit  with  his  whole  army  of  British  and  In- 
dians, amounting,  in  all,  to  over  twelve  hundred  men.  The  Amer- 
icans, occujiying  a  defensible  position,  entertained  little  fears  of  being 
abh;  to  sustain  themselves;  but  what  was  the  astonishment  and  in- 
dignation of  the  army,  when  General  Hull,  as  the  enemy  apj)roached 
to  the  assault,  entered  into  n  parley,  and  arranged  terms  of  surrender. 
All  the  regulars  and  volunteers  in  the  American  army  became,  pris- 


ml 


m 


862 


AMERICA  ILLCSTEATED. 


oners  of  war,  the  militia  being  paroled,  and  the  whole  territory  ol 
Michigan  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British. 

So  heavy  a  loss,  and  so  disgraceful  a  reverse,  at  this  first  opening 
of  the  campaign,  couM  not  be  parientlj  endured.  Every  species  of 
opprobrium  was  heaped  upon  the  commanding  officer,  to  whose  in- 
decision or  weakness  the  failure  was  wholly  attributed.  Put  upon 
trial,  by  court  martial,  long  afterwards,  he  was  convicted  of  cow- 
ardice; but  his  character,  at  the  present  da}-,  stands  free  from  asper- 
sions thrown  out  in  the  heat  of  disappointment,  and  his  failings — 
principally  over-caution,  and  a  want  of  that  promptness  and  energy 
which  are  so  necessary  in  a  military  leader — are  looked  upon  with 
greater  leniency. 

The  result  of  this  campai,gn,  unf«>rlijnate]3'  for  the  American  inter- 
ests, was  to  give  fiicilitiea  for  an  eaev  and  constant  communication 
between  the  British  and  the  confederate  tribes  of  the  north-west. 
The  latter  were  never  more  dangerous  enemies  than  at  this  period, 
provided,  as  they  were,  with  arms  by  their  English  allies,  led  b}'  a 
chief  of  surpassing  abilities  as  a  military  leader,  and  excited  by  su- 
perstitious confidence  in  their  Prophet  Elikwatawa. 

Upon  a  change  of  the  British  miDistry,  in  the  month  of  June,  of 
this  year,  a  repeal  of  the  orrlers  in  council  as  to  American  vessels 
was  brought  about,  and  it  was  trusted  that  negotiations  might  now 
be  opened  for  a  peaceful  settlement  of  difficulties.  The  American 
government,  however,  declined  a!l  proposals  for  a  suspension  ot 
hostilities,  not  based  upon  a  proposed  adjustment  of  other  claims 
against  England.  The  matter  of  the  right  of  impressment  was  as 
far  as  ever  from  settlement;  the  Britiiih  absolutely  refused  to  yield 
the  point;  and  the  grievance  complained  of  had  now  become  more 
than  ever  intolerable.  The  namber  of  native  born  American  citizens 
rendering  compulsory  service  in  the  Briti.sh  navy  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained, but  those  who  claimed  exemption  on  this  ground  numbered 
between  three  and  four  thoosancL  ITie  great  majority  of  these  were 
doubtless  foreigners,  but  their  right  to  protection,  if  not  British  sub- 
jects, was  as  clear  as  in  the  ca*e  of  native  or  naturalized  citizens. 

While  all  the  acta  of  the  American  government  continued  to 
bjeathe  a  warlike  spirit,  many  obstadcs  were  exj>erienced  in  the  prac- 
tical operations  of  th.e  campaign.  It  was  difficult  to  procure  rccruita 
by  voluntary  enlistment,  and  in  the  raiding  of  a  militia  force,  con- 
tinual opposition  wa.s  met  by  state  claims  of  sovereignty.  By  a  sin- 
gular transmutation,  the  federalist*  at  th'ia  crisia  were  the  sticklers 


THE   UNITED   STATES. 


863 


for  state  rigbt=,  as  opposed  to  the  military  authority  of  the  president, 
and  the  acts  of  congress.  Several  states  refused  to  comply  with  the 
requisitions  of  government,  upon  the  ground  that  no  necessity  of  the 
kind  contemplated  by  the  act  respecting  draughts  of  militia,  could 
be  said  to  exist — that  there  was  no  call  to  "execute  the  laws  of  the 
Union,  sappress  insurrections,  or  repel  invasion."  Questions  respect- 
in'^  the  employment  of  the  militia  in  foreign  territory,  and  their  claim 
to  be  commanded  by  their  own  officers,  if  of  superior  rank  to  any 
regular  oi!ficer  present,  gave  rise  to  great  difficulty  and  dissension. 

At  the  west,  early  in  the  autumn,  a  force  of  about  ten  thous^and 
men  was  collected  for  the  defence  of  the  frontier,  and  for  operations 
against  the  British  and  Indians.  Governor  Harrison  was  appointed 
to  the  chief  command.  The  impracticable  nature  of  the  roads,  and 
thedifficalty  of  maintaining  an  army  in  the  wilderness,  impeded  the 
movement  of  any  large  body  of  troops,  and  nothing  was  eft't'ctod, 
during  the  remainder  of  the  year,  further  than  the  destruction  of 
several  Indian  villages,  by  detached  parties. 

Upon  the  waters  which  separate  Canada  from  New  York,  a  still 
larger  f>rcc  than  that  under  Harrison  was  stationed  at  various  points 
from  Niagara  to  Lake  Champlain.  On  the  13th  of  October,  a  party 
of  less  than  three  hundred  men,  led  by  Colonel  Van  Rensselaer, 
crossed  Niagara  river  and  stormed  the  British  fort  at  Qucenstown. 
They  were  to  have  1>een  supported  by  a  large  force,  sufficient  to 
maintain  possession,  and  resist  any  reinforcements  that  could  be 
brought  up  by  the  enem}-,  but  during  the  embarkation,  the  principal 
portioa  of  the  militia,  at  first  loud  in  protestations  of  eagerness  to 
invade  the  enemy's  territory,  taken  with  a  panic,  refused  to  cross. 
In  an  attempt  at  recovering  the  fort,  the  brave  General  Brock  fell, 
while  leading  bia  men  to  the  assault. 

Notwithstanding  their  success  at  the  first  onset,  the  event  proved 
di.^astrous  to  the  Americans.  A  strong  reinforcement  under  General 
Sheafe  came  to  the  assistance  of  the  enemy,  and  the  whole  invading 
division,  amounting— with  those  brought  across  during  the  contest— to 
more  than  a  thousand  men,  thrown  into  confusit)n,  and  cut  off  from  re- 
treat, was  forced  to  surrender.  Nothing  further,  of  any  importance, 
was  accomplished  upon  the  frontier,  during  the  remainder  of  the  year. 
The  flaming  proclamation  of  General  Smyth,  and  the  patrfotic  ardour 
expressed  Viy  the  rnilitia  and  volunteers  wlio  composed  the  principal 
portion  ot  the  army  of  the  north,  alike  endt'd  in  smoke.  While  the 
Boidtcrs  nccuecd  their  commanders  of  a  lack  of  energy,  and  inveighed 


364 


AMERICA   ILLUSTPwATED. 


against  vexatious  delays  and  general  mismanagement,  the  latter  had 
abandant  ground  of  complaint  in  the  turbulence  and  insubordination 
of  the  new  recruits. 

Experience  having  proved  the  necessity  of  establishing  a  marine 
force  on  the  lakes,  in  order  to  effect  any  thing  in  Canada,  a  movement 
for  this  purpose  was  commenced  in  the  month  of  September  pre- 
vious, at  Sackett's  Harbour,  under  direction  of  Captain  Chauncey, 
At  this  Tx>rt,  situated  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  Lake  Ontario,  the 
keel  of  a  ship  was  laid,  and  a  number  of  trading  schooners  were 
purchased  and  armed.  A  small  sloop  of  war,  named  the  Oneida, 
had  been  previously  fitted  out,  and  was  also  under  Chauncey's  com- 
mand. "With  this  little  fleet,  some  bold  excursions  were  made  on  the 
lake,  a  British  armed  vessel  was  driven  into  Kingston  harbour,  and 
several  small  prizes  were  taken.  The  new  ship,  of  twenty-fear 
guns,  was  completed  in  November,  and  was  called  the  Madison. 

Lieutenant  Elliot,  furnished  by  Chauncey  with  a  detachment  of 
seamen,  in  the  month  of  October,  succeeded  in  capturing  two  small 
armed  vessels  belonging  to  the  enemy,  and  lying  in  J^iagara  river. 
He  also  commenced  preparations  for  future  operations  on  Lake  Erie, 
by  collecting  trading  vessels  at  Black  Eock,  and  providing  them  with 
suitable  armament, 

"While  the  foundation  was  thus  laid  for  further  brilliant  successes 
on  the  lakes,  successive  reports  of  the  unexpected  prowess  of  the 
little  L'nited  Stales'  nav}- — consisting  of  but  seven  frigates,  (fit  for 
service),  two  sloops  of  war,  five  brigs,  and  a  fleet  of  gun-boats — gave 
rise  to  great  exultation  throughout  the  country. 

The  first  naval  engagement  of  importance,  took  place  on  the  19lh 
of  August.  The  American  frigate  Constitution,  Captain  Hull,  cruis- 
ing off  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  foil  in  with  the  Guerricrc,  a 
British  frigate  of  thirty-eight  guns,  commanded  by  ^^aptuin  Dacies. 
The  former,  receiving  successive  broadsides  from  the  Guerriere, 
bore  down  in  silence  until  close  at  hand,  when  she  opened  sucli  an 
eiTective  fire  as  soon  to  disable  and  crij)ple  the  enemy.  The  en- 
gagement lasted  only  about  ha'.f  an  hour,  partly  at  close  quarter.-!, 
and  when  the  Constitution  finally  cast  off,  all  the  masts  of  the 
Guerriere  had  gone  by  the  board.  The  latter  presently  struck, 
but  she  Lad  received  irreparable  injury,  and  was  set  on  lire  after  a 
transfer  of  her  crew  to  the  Constitution.  This  victory  was  attri- 
buted by  the  English  to  superiority  in  force.  The  Constitution, 
according  to  their  account,  "  nominally  mounting  but  forty-four  guns, 


THE   UNITED  STATES. 


365 


was,  ia  reality,  little  short  of  a  seventy-four."  The  disparity  was 
by  no  means  as  great  as  represented,  and  could  not  account  for  the 
result  of  the  engagement.  The  truth  seems  to  be,  that  in  this  as  in 
subsequent  affairs,  the  American  vessels  were  manoeuvred  in  a 
masterly  manner,  and  that  their  fire  was  given  with  better  aim  than 
that  of  their  antagonists. 

The  United  States'  sloop-of-war  "Wasp,  under  Captain  Jones,  in 
chase  of  a  British  fleet  of  merchant  vessels,  in  the  month  of  October, 
encountered  the  Fiolic,  a  brig  of  superior  force,  acting  as  convoy. 
After  a  most  destructive  and  desperate  engagement,  the  British 
vessel  was  carried  by  boarding.  The  loss  on  board  of  the  latter, 
was  about  eighty  in  killed  and  wounded;  the  Americans  lost  but 
ten.  The  Wasp  was  so  much  crippled  in  her  rigging,  that,  to- 
gether with  her  prize,  she  was  shortly  after  captured  by  a  British 
seventy-four. 

A  few  days  later  the  frigate  United  States,  commanded  by  Deca- 
tur, captured  the  British  frigate  Macedonian,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Western  Islands.  The  American  vessel  was  somewhat  superior  in 
force,  but,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Guerriere,  not  sufficiently  so  to 
account  for  the  rapidity  with  which  she  disabled  her  opponent,  nor 
for  the  fact,  that  of  her  crew,  only  twelve  were  killed  or  wounded, 
while  the  loss  of  the  Macedonian  was  more  than  one  hundred.  The 
prize  was  taken  into  New  York  in  safety. 

During  the  summer  and  autumn,  the  Americans  lost  two  brigs-of- 
war,  the  Nautilus,  and  the  Vixen,  both  taken,  without  resistance, 
by  superior  force.  On  the  29th  of  December,  the  Constitution, 
under  command  of  Bainbridgo,  engaged  the  British  frigate  Java,  of 
thirty-eight  gunj^.  The  contest,  commencing  at  a  distance,  and  end- 
ing at  close-quarters,  continued  for  several  hours,  Avhen  the  Java, 
being  entirely  dismasted,  struck.  She  was  so  far  crippled,  that  it 
was  judged  expedient  to  destroy  her. 

While  the  national  pride  was  gratified  by  these  victories,  numer- 
ous privateers,  mostly  fitted  out  from  New  England  ports,  met  with 
great  success  in  plundering  the  British  merchant  vessels,  homeward 
bound  from  the  Indies.  Many  valuable  prizes  were  taken — not 
without  some  hard  fighting,  in  cases  where  the  trading  vessels 
were  armed. 

The  period  of  a  presidential  election  recurring  in  1812,  Madison 
was  reelected,  Elbridge  Gerry,  of  Massachusetts,  minister  to  France 
in  1797,  was  elevated  to  the  vice-presidency,  by  the  votes  of  the 


.01 


ii 


■% 


366 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRxVTED. 


war-party.  Notwithstanding  a  violent  opposition,  perseverance  in 
hostile  measures  met  with  the  approbation  and  support  of  a  majority 
in  congress,  and  appropriations  were  made,  and  acta  passed,  for  the 
increase  of  the  national  force,  and  for  large  additions  to  the  navy. 

Military  operations  were  renewed  at  the  north-west,  early  in  the 
winter.  Several  Indian  villages  were  destroyed  in  December,  but 
nothing  of  importance  was  accomplished.  During  the  month  fol- 
lowing, a  detachment  of  Kentucky  troops,  under  General  "Winches- 
ter, was  sent  forward  by  Harrison  to  take  a  position  at  the  Miami 
rapids.  A  body  of  nearly  seven  hundred  of  these  pushed  on  to 
Freuchtown,  on  the  Eaisin,  then  occupied  by  British  and  Indians. 
The  first  attack  was  successful ;  the  enemy  were  driven  from  the 
town,  and  the  Americans  were  reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  Win- 
chester with  additional  troops. 

On  the  22d,  General  Proctor,  having  crossed  over  from  Maiden, 
with  a  strong  force  of  regulars  and  Indians,  fell  upon  and  totally 
defeated  the  American  detachment.  The  commanding  officer  was 
taken  prisoner  early  iiTthe  engagement,  while  a  portion  of  the  Amer- 
ican troops  yet  maintained  a  defensible  position.  The  general 
ordered  a  surrender,  upon  promises  of  protection  against  the  sav- 
ages. Instead  of  fulfilling  his  undertaking  in  this  respect.  Proctor 
marched  back  towards  Maiden,  with  such  prisoners  as  were  able  to 
travel,  leaving  the  wounded  unprotected  at  the  scene  of  combat. 
On  the  following  day,  no  small  portion  of  these  were  scalped,  tom- 
ahawked, or  burned  alive  in  the  houses  where  they  lay  disabled, 
by  a  party  of  Indians.  Harrison,  discontinuing  offensive  operations, 
fortified  himself  at  Fort  Meigs,  on  the  rapids. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1813,  he  was  besieged  at  this  post,  bv  a 
British  and  Indian  force,  under  Proctor.  Relieved  by  the  arrival 
of  riiinforcements  from  Kentucky,  led  by  General  Clay,  he  succeeded 
in  holding  the  position,  but  a  considerable  body  of  these  fresh  forces 
was  utterly  defeated,  after  driving  the  British  from  a  position  where 
batteries  were  erected  to  bear  upon  Fort  Meigs.  This  disaster  is 
attributed  to  the  circumstance,  that,  instead  of  maintaining  orderly 
possession  of  the  works,  they  commenced  an  irregular  skirmish  with 
detached  parties  of  Indians  in  the  surrounding  forest. 

On  the  New' York  frontier,  nothing  important  was  effected  by 
either  party  until  the  spring  was  far  advanced.  Near  the  close  of 
April,  a  detachment  of  sixteen  hundred  men  embarked  on  board 
Chauncey's  Ontario  squadron,  for  the  purpose  of  an  attack  upon  the 


THE   UNITED    STATES. 


367 


Canadian  town  of  York.  The  place,  defended  by  a  garrison  of  six 
to  eight  hundred  men,  was  carri<  .1  by  storm,  but  at  the  moment  of 
success,  tha  magazine  blew  up,  destroying  a  large  number  of  the 
assailants.  The  American  commander,  General  Pike,  was  among 
the  killed. 

The  squadron  r:^t  .;ing  to  Sackett's  harbour,  took  on  board  fresh 
forces,  under  the  immediate  command  of  Dearborn,  and  immediately 
sailed  for  the  entrance  of  Niagara  river.  All  the  British  forts  in 
the  vicinity  were  seized,  the  principal  portion  of  the  garrisons 
retreating  to  the  heights  on  Burlington  bay — the  western  extremity 
of  Lake  Ontario.  In  an  attempt  at  pursuit,  a  few  days  later,  a 
detachment  of  the  Americans  sustained  considerable  loss,  and  two 
of  their  generals,  Chandler  and  Winder,  were  taken  prisoners.  The 
division  was  presently  recalled  to  Fort  George,  one  of  the  recently 
acquired  posts  on  the  Niagara.  A  second  expedition  against  the 
enemy  resulted  in  the  loss  of  an  entire  detachment  of  six  hundred 
men,  under  Colonel  Boerstler. 

A  vigorous  attack  upon  the  American  post  at  Sackett's  Harbour, 
in  the  latter  part  of  May,  was  repulsed  by  the  garrison,  Glided  by 
New  York  militia,  under  General  Brown.  On  Lake  Champlain  the 
British  were  more  successful.  By  the  creation  of  a  superior  naval 
force,  they  obtained  command  of  those  waters,  and  did  much  in- 
jury to  the  neighbouring  settlements.  Plattsburgh,  on  the  western 
shore  of  the  lake,  was  plundered  and  destroyed,  "in  revenge,"  it 
was  said,  "for  the  affair  of  York;"  the  latter  having  been  a  second 
time  invaded  by  an  American  force,  under  Colonel  Scott. 

iNTEnxAii  Improvements. — New  York,  headed  by  her  great  rtatesiuun.  Do  "Witt  Clin- 
ton, 1ms  the  honor  of  taking  the  leiid  in  interna!  in^.provc  nient?,  from  ■vvhieh  enterprise  she 
is  now  reni)infr  an  ample  reward  in  her  commercial  prc-ominciK-e  and  wealth.  In  1817 
was  commenced  the  preat  work  of  connoctinar  the  waters  of  t.ie  Atlantic  with  the  great 
lakes,  hy  breakinjr  the  soil  for  the  Erie  and  Hudson  Canal,  whicii  is  .^Cl  miles  lonpr,  and 
(originallv)  fortv  feel  wide.     It  wa.s  eompkted  in  18-25.  at  a  cost  of  alout  $7,000,000, 

Vol.  IY.— 52. 


i 


'■Ml 


368  AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


Vj   JUL    Jjii   X^    X    Ju   ib^      t^   X   til   <L  * 

NAVAL    A'FPAIRS:    I'E  U  RT'S   VICTO  R  Y    ON    LAKE    ERIE. —  H  A  U- 

RISON'S   CANADIAN    CAMPAIGN. THE   NIAGARA    FRONTIER. 

•   THE   CREKK   WAR;    JACKSON'S    CAMPAIGN.  —  NEGOTIA- 
TIONS  POR    PKACE.  —  BROWN'S    INVASION   OP   CANADA: 
BATTLE    OP    BRIDGEWATER.  —  OCCUPATION    OP    tUE 
CHESAPEAKE:    BATTLE    OP    BL  A  DENSBU  RG  H:   SEIZ- 
URE  OF    WASHINGTON:    DESTRUCTION    OP   PUBLIC 
BUILDINGS:    ATTACK    ON    BALTIMORE. 

FROii  tlie  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1813,  the  British  naval 
force  on  the  coast,  considerably  augmented,  maintained  a  partial 
blockade  of  many  American  seaports.  Several  ships-of-war,  enter- 
ing the  Chesapeake,  cut  off  all  ingress  or  egress  for  American  ves- 
sels, and^landing  parties  at  diflerent  points,  did  ranch  damage,  and 
kept  the  neighbouring  country  in  a  state  of  anxiety  and  alarm. 

Upon  the  ocean,  the  credit  of  the  American  navy,  notwithstand- 
ing some  severe  reverses,  was  fully  maintained.  The  sloop-of-war 
Hornet,  under  Captain  Lawrence,  in  the  month  of  February,  en- 
gaged and  sunk  the  British  brig  Peacock  of  nearly  equal  force,  off 
tlic  coast  of  Demerara.  After  the  latter  had  struck  her  flag,  it  was 
ascertained  that  she  was  settling  Hist.  The  sea  was  rough,  and, 
although  every  exertion  was  made  to  save  the  crew,  she  went 
down  with  twelve  men  on  board,  three  of  v>hom  were  Americans, 
belonging  to  the  Hornet. 

Captain  Lawrence  was  afterwards  promoted  to  the  command  of 
the  ill-fated  Chesapeake,  then  lying  in  Boston  harbour.  On  the 
1st  day  of  June,  the  British  frigate  Shannon,  Captain  Broke,  appear- 
ing off  the  port,  Lawrence  got  his  vessel  under  weigh  and  made 
sail,  to  answer  the  implied  challenge.  The  ships  were  of  equal 
force,  but  the  American  frigate  laboured  under  the  disadvantage  of 
having  on  board  an  ill-disciplined  crew,  and  a  deficiency  of  compe- 
tent officers.  An  engagement — watched  from  shore  with  intcn.se 
interest — took  place  late  in  the  afternoon.  The  Chesapeake,  par- 
tially cripj)led  during  a  heavy  fire  at  close-quarters,  was  carried  by 
boarding,  her  commander  lying,  at  the  time,  mortally  wounded. 
While  he  retained  possession  of  his  faculties,  he  refused  to  order  the 


THE   UNITED   STATES. 


369 


flag  to  be  struck,  and  among  his  last  words,  was  tlic  expression, 
"Don't  give  up  the  sliip." 

In  the  course  of  the  summer,  the  American  sloop-of-\var  Argus, 
after  taking  a  great  number  of  prizes  in  the  British  channel,  was 
captured  by  the  English  sloop-of-war  Pelican.  Ca])taiu  Porter,  in 
command  of  the  second  class  frigate  Essex,  did  valuable  service  in 
the  Pacific  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1812.  Tlie  operations 
of  American  whalers  had  been  interrapted,  and  rendered  precarious 
by  the  general  commission  and  arming  as  privateers  of  those  vessels 
from  Great  Britain,  that  v/ere  engaged  in  a  similar  occupation. 
!Many  of  the  latter  were  made  prizes  by  Porter,  and  effectual  pro- 
tection was  extended  to  American  shipping. 

Tlie  Essex  was  attacked,  in  the  month  of  December  following, 
while  at  anchor  in  the  neutral  port  of  Valparaiso,  by  two  British 
vessels  of  war,  tlie  Phcebe  and  Cherub,  and,  after  a  severe  engage- 
ment, was  compelled  to  strike.  The  enemy,  having  heavier  guns, 
were  enabled  to  keep  up  p.  destructive  fire  at  a  distance  too  great 
for  those  of  the  Essex  to  be  effective. 

Operations  of  far  greater  importance,  meanwhile,  had  taken  place 
on  the  great  lakes.  On  Lake  Erie  a  squadron  of  nine  vessels,  mostly 
small  craft,  carrying  in  all  fifty -four  guns,  was  put  under  command 
of  Commodore  Perry.  The  British  fleet  at  the  lake,  under  Barclay, 
consisted  of  six  vessels,  the  whole  number  of  guns  on  board  being 
sixty-three.  There  was  no  great  disparity  in  the  number  of  men 
on  either  side,  but  those  of  the  American  fleet  are  said  to  have  been 
better  selected  and  more  capable  seamen. 

An  engagement  took  place,  on  the  10th  of  September,  in  the 
open  lake,  between  ilalden  and  Sandusky.  Tlie  wind  was  very 
light,  and  Perr}',  advancing  unsupported,  in  the  Lawrence,  was 
exposed  to  a  heavy  and  disabling  fire  from  the  long  guns  of  the 
enemy.  His  vessel  was  completely  crippled  before  the  others  could 
come  up,  and  the  commodore  was  coniiwlled  to  abandon  her.  In 
an  open  boat,  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire,  he  went  on  board  the  Ni- 
agara. The  wind  having  freshened,  the  whole  squadron  was  soon 
brought  up  to  support  the  larger  vessels,  and  the  action  continued, 
with  such  energy  and  effect,  that  the  British  fleet  was  compelled 
to  surrender. 

This  victory  was  no  less  a  cause  for  national  rejoicing  as  another 
instance  of  superiority  upon  the  watt-r,  than  for  tlic  great  importance 
of  its  results.     I'he  command  of  Lake  Erie  rendered  practicable  the 


370 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


transportation  of  forces  to  any  given  point  upon  an  extensive  front* 
ier,  and  made  it  equally  imprevisable  by  the  enemy.  \t  the  close 
of  the  month,  Harrison  and  his  army  were  convoyed  across  the 
lake  to  Maiden,  which  was  abandoned  by  Proctor  at  his  approach. 

The  retreating  army,  pursued  up  Thames  river,  made  a  stand  on 
the  5th  of  October,  near  Moravian  town,  above  the  forks.  Including 
his  Indian  allies,  led  by  Tecumseh,  Proctor  commanded  a  force  of 
about  two  thousand  eight  hundred  men ;  that  of  Ilarrison  was  rather 
inferior  in  numbers.  The  British  were  posted  on  the  right  bank, 
between  the  river  and  extensive  swamps — the  latter  occupied  by 
Indians.  The  attack  was  commenced  by  the  charge  of  a  mounted 
regiment  under  Colonel  Johnson;  the  British  line  was  broken,  and 
a  complete  victory  obtained  by  the  Americans.  The  Indians  in  the 
swamp  held  their  ground  until  the  fall  of  their  leader; — who,  it  is 
said,  was  shot  with  a  pistol  by  Colonel  Johnson. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  British  regular  force  surrendered,  as 
prisoners  of  war.  The  great  north-western  Indian  confederacy  was 
broken  up  by  this  event,  and  the  separate  tribes  sent  in  deputations 
suing  for  peace.  Treaties  were  subsequently  ratified  with  most 
of  them. 

During  the  autumn,  extensive  preparations  were  made  at  the 
north  for  an  attack  on  ^[ontreal.  Dearborn  had  been  succeeded  in 
the  cliief  command  by  General  Wilkinson.  ^luch  diflerence  of 
o^iinion  existed  between  the  latter  and  the  secretary  of  war,  General 
Armstrong,  and  to  this  circumstance  the  ill-success  of  the  expedition 
has  been  partially  attributed.  A  force  of  seven  or  eight  thousand 
men,  concentrated  at  Grenadier  island,  was  to  descend  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  cooperate  with  a  division  of  four  thousand,  under 
General  Ifampton,  ordered  to  march  from  Plattsburgh,  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  The  advance  of  this  latter  portion  of  the  army  was  checked 
by  a  few  militia,  whose  force  was  overrated  by  the  American  gen- 
eral; and,  the  approach  of  winter  adding  to  the  difficulties  of  a 
campaign,  a  retreat  was  ordered,  and  the  army  returned  to  itfl 
former  quarters. 

"Wilkinson  pushed  down  the  St.  Lawrence,  greatly  annoyed  by 
the  enemy,  who  followed  in  the  wake  of  his  flotilla  with  gun-boats, 
and  who  occupied  every  convenient  stand,  on  the  sliore,  from  which 
they  might  command  the  passage.  It  became  necessary  to  land  a 
large  detachment,  to  follow  the  course  of  the  river  by  land,  and 
open  a  way  for  the  boats.     On  the  11th  of  November,  quite  a  severe 


THE   UNITED    STATES. 


371 


engagement  took  place  between  tliis  division  and  a  body  of  the 
enemy,  at  Chrysler's  farm,  in  which  the  Americans  lost  between 
three  and  four  hundred  men. 

Arriving  at  St.  Regis,  Wilkinson  learned  the  failure  of  Hampton's 
attempt  at'  forming  a  junction  with  the  main  force.  The  lateness 
of  the  season  was  unfavourable  for  further  action,  and,  although 
Montreal  was  defended  by  a  very  small  force,  it  was  decided  to 
abandon  the  expedition.  The  main  army  went  into  winter-quarters 
at  French  mills. 

The  frontier,  left  unprotected  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  regular 
troops  from  the  garrisoned  posts,  and  by  the  expiration  of  the  term 
of  service  of  militia  and  volunteers,  suffered  severely  from  the  rav- 
ages of  the  enemy.  General  M'Clure,  compelled  to  abandon  Fort 
George,  on  the  Niagara,  set  fire  to  the  village  of  Newark,  which  was 
reduced  to  ashes,  and  its  inhabitants  were  left  without  a  shelter, 
in  the  inclement  month  of  December.  Ilis  instructions  were  to  take 
this  course,  if  necessary  for  the  defence  of  the  fort;  but  the  circum- 
stances warranted  no  such  outrage,  and,  in  retaliation,  the  Indian 
allies' of  the  British  were  encouraged  to  plunder  and  lay  waste  the 
frontier  villages  on  the  American  side.  On  the  30th  of  December, 
the  towns  of  Black  Rock  and  Buffalo  were  entirely  destroyed  by  an 
invading  party  of  the  enemy. 

Meanwhile,  the  machinations  of  Tecumseh  had  produced  their 
full  effect  at  the  south.  The  formidable  Creek  confederacy  had 
commenced  open  war  upon  the  white  settlers.  The  first  important 
blow  struck,  was  at  Fort  Mimms,  on  the  Alabama  river,  in  the 
Tensaw  settlement,  which  was  sacked  on  the  30th  of  August,  by  a 
large  body  of  Indians,  under  the  noted  chief  Weatherford.  The 
garrison,  one  hundred  and  sixty  in  number,  with  more  than  a  hun- 
dred inhabitants  of  the  neighbourhood,  of  every  age  and  sex,  who 
had  sought  protection  at  the  fort,  were  nearly  all  killed  in  the  fight, 
or  perished  in  the  burning  buildings. 

A  large  force  was  raised  in  Tennessee,  and  put  under  command 
of  General  Jackson,  for  the  purpose  of  checking  the  ravages  of  the 
Indians.  Marching  into  the  Creek  territory  in  the  month  of  Octo- 
ber, Jackson  beat  up  the  enemy's  quarters  at  Tallussahachee  creek, 
a  tributary  of  the  Coosa,  and  relieved  a  post  occupied  by  friendly 
Indians  at  Talladega,  further  down  the  stream,  destroying  several 
hundred  of  the  hostile  party.  In  other  engagements,  the  Creeks 
were  worsted,  but  their  spirit  seemed  unconquerable,  and,  as  they 


372 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTKATEU. 


had  formed  an  idea  that  no  quarter  would  be  given  them,  the)' 
fought  ^vith  great  courage  and  desperation. 

Little  was  accomplished  during  the  winter,  on  account  of  the 
extreme  difliculty  of  maintaining  an  army  in  the  wilderness.  The 
skill  and  energy  displayed  by  General  Jackson,  in  preserving. dis- 
cipline, and  securing  supplies  for  his  troops  under  these  trying  cir- 
cumstances, gained  him  even  greater  reputation  than  his  brilliant 
achievements  in  actual  warfare.  In  the  month  of  March,  1814, 
about  one  thousand  of  the  Creek  warriors  fortified  themselves  at 
the  Great  Ilorse-Shoe-Bcnd,  in  the  Tallapoosie. 

On  the  27ih,  they  were  surrounded  and  attacked  by  a  vastly 
superior  force  of  whites  and  friendly  Indians.  They  fought  with 
fury  to  the  last,  firing — perhaps  through  ignorance — u})on  the  bearer 
of  a  flag,  who  was  sent  forward  by  Jackson  to  propose  a  surrciuler. 
More  than  half  their  number  were  killed  in  the  attack;  great  num- 
bers perished  in  the  river,  and  but  a  handful  of  the  whole  number 
effected  their  escape.  Very  few  of  the  men  were  taken  prisoners, 
but,  after  the  battle,  several  hundred  women  and  children  were 
secured.  The  various  tribes,  after  this  event,  were  ready  to  con- 
clude a  peace,  and  to  coufiiie  themselves  within  their  territory,  ea.st- 
ward  fi'om  the  Coosa. 

At  the  winter  session  of  congress,  1813-14,  the  exigencies  of  the 
war  were  met  by  the  adoption  of  new  schemes  for  procuring  funds. 
Direct  taxes,  loans,  additional  duties,  &c.,  were  resorted  to.  The 
war-party,  still  .in  the  ascendency,  favoured  the  views  of  the  presi- 
dent, and,  upon  his  recommendation,  an  embargo  was  laid  upon  all 
goods,  produce,  &c.,  which  could  be  of  service  to  the  enemy.  Im- 
portations of  British  goods  were  also  expressly  prohibited. 

Karly  in  January,  a  proposition  to  treat  for  peace,  was  received 
from  Kiiglaiid,  and  commissioners  were  appointed  tc  proceed  to 
Gottiiigen  for  the  purpose.  Previous  oflers  of  mc<l:ation,  inade  by 
the  KiMperor  of  Russia,  had  been  repeatedly  proposed  to  the  British 
government,  and  as  often  rejected.  Intelligence  of  Napoleon'a 
reverses,  brought  over  at  the  same  time  with  the  British  peace  eni" 
bassy,  was  not  without  its  influence,  in  fortifying  the  policy  of 
pacific  measures. 

No  military  movements  of  importance,  took  place  at  the  north 
during  the  winter  and  spring.  Toward  the  close  of  Marel),  General 
Wilkinson  marched  from  Pluttsburgh  across  the  Canadian  boundary, 
with  a  force  of  four  thousand  men,  but  the  inva.-^ion  resulted  ia 


THE   UNITED   STATES. 


873 


nothing  but  loss  and  defeat.     He  soon  after  resigned  his  commission, 
and  was  succeeded  by  General  Izard. 

At  the  instance  of  the  American  generals,  Brown  and  Scott,  a 
new  army  of  invasion  was  collected  in  the  vicinity  of  Niagara. 
Between  three  and  four  thousand  men  were  transported  across  the 
river  at  Bufihlo,  on  the  night  of  July  2d,  and  after  accompHshing 
the  seizure  of  Fort  Erie,  pushed  on  towards  Chippewa,  in  the  imme- 
diate neighbourhood  of  the  Falls,  where  a  British  army,  of  equal 
force,  commanded  by  General  lliall,  lay  encamped,  A  severe 
engagement  took  place  on  the  5th,  in  which  the  British  were  de- 
feated, with  a  loss  of  five  hundred  men.  Riall  retreated  to  Burling- 
ton heights.  A  few  weeks  later  he  was  joined  by  large  additional 
forces  from'  York,  under  General  Drummond. 

The  American  arm}--,  marching  towards  Qucenstown,  (July  25th,) 
encountered  the  enemy  at  Bridgewater,  hard  by  the  Falls  of  Niagara. 
Although  the  British  hod  takea  a  position  in  which  their  artillery, 
posted  upon  a  hill,  could  command  the  field,  and  although  the  day 
was  nearly  spent,  the  Americans  commenced  an  attack  without 
hesitation. 

A  regiment  under  Major  Jessup,  making  a  detour,  came  upon  the 
rear  of  the  enemy,  while  General  Scott,  with  the  advanced  division 
of  the  army,  attacked  in  front.  The  main  force  coming  up,  the 
battle  became  general,  and  a  bloody  and  desperate  conflict  was 
waged  through  half  the  night,  by  the  light  of  the  moon.  The 
British  battery,  which  had  at  first  proved  terribly  destructive,  was 
gallantly  stormed  by  Colonel  Miller,  with  a  batlali(;i;  from  the  artil- 
lery corps.  Possession  of  the  hill  was  maintained  against  repeated 
assaults  until  the  lighting  ceased. 

The  Americans  kept  temporary  possession  of  v,hc  field,  and  there- 
fore claimed  the  victory.  The  loss  on  either  side  was  heavy,  amount- 
ing to  seven  or  eight  hundred.  The  British  general  Jliall  was 
wounded,  and  taken  prisoner  by  Jessup's  detaehment.  Generals 
Brown  and  Scott  were  both  .so  severely  wounded  as  to  incapacitate 
them  from  present  service,  and  General  Kipley  ass";ned  conun.Tiid. 
Little  advantage  was  gained  in  the  engagement,  farther  than  as  \* 
inspired  general  confidence  in  the  capacity  of  thtj  iNmerican  offi«'or.s, 
and  the  bravery  of  tiie  troops.  The  battle  has  commonly  received 
its  designation  from  the  neighbouring  locality  of  "Jiundy's  I-ane.'' 
It  was  iinpos.sil)le  to  remove  the  cannon  from  the  British  battery,  and 
they  were  therefore  recovered  upon  the  .leparture  of  the  Americana 


k 


Oil 


AAIEP.ICA   ILLUSTKATED. 


The  latter  retreated  to  Fort  Erie,  where  they  strergthened  their 
position  in  anticipation  of  siege  by  a  superior  force.  The  post  was 
beset  accordingly  on  the  4th  of  August,  by  General  Drummond, 
with  over  four  thousand  men.  On  the  loth,  an  attempt  to  carry  it 
by  storm  was  signally  repulsed.  In  September,  General  Brown 
reassumed  command  of  the  forces  at  Fort  Erie,  and,  as  the  siege  had 
continued  for  more  than  a  month,  and  supplies  were  with  difficulty 
to  be  procured,  he  attempted  a  sortie.  So  skillfully  and  boldly  was 
the  movement  conducted,  that  the  British  guns  were  spiked,  their 
magazines  blown  up,  and  some  four  or  five  hundred  prisoners  taken. 
The  whole  loss  of  the  besiegers  fell  little  short  of  a  thousand  men; 
that  of  the  sallying  party  was  about  five  hundred.  Drummond 
shortly  after  drew  oil'  his  forces. 

llelievcd  from  the  burden  of  maintaining  war  upon  the  European 
continent,  and  with  abundance  of  veteran  troops,  and  a  powerful 
navy,  at  liberty  for  transatlantic  service,  Great  Britain  commenced 
more  directly  oH'onsive  operations  in  America.  A  fleet  commanded 
by  Adniiral  Cochrane  entered  the  Chesapeake,  and,  passing  up 
Patuxent  river,  reached  Benedict  on  the  19th  of  August  (1814) 
Between  four  and  five  thousand  troops,  mostly  trained  in  the  school  of 
continental  service,  were  landed  at  this  jjoint,  and,  under  command 
ol  General  I'oss,  took  u{)  their  line  of  march  towards  Washington. 

As  the  army  approached  ^larlborough,  the  American  fleet  of 
gun-boats,  &c.,  lying  at  that  place,  was  destroyed,  to  prevent  its 
seizure  by  the  enemy.  General  Winder,  of  Baltimore,  who  held 
connnand  in  that  (piartcr,  with  a  thousand  regulars,  and  authority 
to  call  out  the  militia  within  a  specified  district,  made  what  prepara- 
tions were  practiitable  to  resist  the  British  advance.  The  whole 
force  that  he  was  enabled  to  collect  and  arm,  fell  short  of  four 
thousand  men,  and  those  were  in  tiie  most  unserviceable  and  un- 
disciplined condition — what  stand  could  they  be  expected  to  make 
against  a  superior  force  of  the  "veterans  of  the  Peninsula?" 

'I'he  British  march  was  unopposed,  until  the  army,  on  the  2-lth, 
reached  Bladonsburgli,  six  miles  from  the  enpitol,  on  the  East  bank 
ot  the  l\)t()mac.  Here  the  American  forces  were  posted  on  the 
right  bank,  the  bridge  over  the  stream  being  commanded  by  several 
pieces  of  artillery,  in  charge  of  Commodore  Barney,  who  was  pres- 
ent with  liis  corps  of  five  hundred  marines,  before  attached  to  the 
flotilla  destroyed  at  Marlborough.  This  body  of  men  fought  bravci^y 
and  obstinately,  holding  tho  enemy  in  check  after  the  militia  had 


I* 


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XMVKIC*    IT.MTSTKATKD. 


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'  »     »•  _v»  ;.     was  •-^-TJ'iil'-     •  *f  •    »*• 

•! :.v  ■!  ''.i«^^  ooTiiniftiui  f  t  ihb  '■■n:- 
rv.     >.-..if<i  lor  m Off'  tb  tn  r»  ai  jiit. 
if  nj*"iirf»J,  tie  atvuipu-^i  a^u:* 

;iv^nie»it  comJii--'*e'l  that  tho  iJrif  •      ■  -pik  d, 

.';  rigazine.i  blown  up,  „..  i  yotr.e  foorcfive  hun<i  'eu  •  tsarrrr^  fbk  ■ 
I'he  whole  li.>&s  cf  th-.^  !•■•?.'  /ers  :%1'  1:;^  short  of  a  tsiousrif  >]  oien 
that  of  tiie  Rfillvii/  pr*.;/  ns  2^  t  f^c  biir.dred.  Dnjaapoi'., 
(sliortly  after  crow 
Jiolieved  Ji'\>rn  : 

t.-Usn-^  of  Ti^^n  •  tT0t>p8,  nnd  a  pov"iSm!\ 

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liMVV,  at  li'iK»r-s    •"  ,r  •■ 


■  T>\,      f  m.^nt:  mi<,g  war  upoh  tlu;  Eur%H;.: 


''freat  r-ntain  '.•oinm0n<-< 


1 1>'T\V»'.:  t.    . 


«.  ■ 


Ah  the  army  :ii.pr» ;:  K."l  ^AtM^jn^^^h,  the  Arneri'ian  ^oet  . 
tntn-boats,  (Sic.,  Iviirj  nt  'r^at  p/»e.  •*■  ■«  d  -Htroyet],  to  prifefit  i 
sci/cure  by  the  vnemy.     <»-  ztenl  \?iri.'er,  of  Baltiinoii^,  wtlbf  h 
L'omrnond  in  that  'rjantv,  A-ith  atiio*'Fari(J  reguiars,  u  <\  unihor 
to  call  out  the  unlit. a  ^-^t.-jir.  asftcdie'!  'i^^i%  v.xnd*}  ^  uatprei'a' 
tMMis  wr(*'   J  ractit  ibir^   'o   rewsrl  iLc  Wi-ltfih  advaii'je.     ThoVrh 
!l»ir'v   tliat  ho  was  ■nri'-lt'**  to  f<i|wtt  ^n4  arn ,  !i  U  Aot%  of  f 


I'    Uwiftni'-l  Mip'i,  Rnd  tt!f-*<^  'mBT*'  4MJI»   rttcml  unserv<'  ""^t)!?;  and 

;•!.  c  to  Tt;; 
.r.Bulft?" 
V,  on  tlu'   J  i-    , 
the  \^»ij|<r(i! 


r<  ;i<  lied  DiM'-e 

:i(  the    l'<-»omrto      '     "        *  ^. 

riglit  batik,  lh«  brl•ii^• 

pi  ores  of  a  r  tiller?,  in  c  r<;: 

cut  with  liis  corpM  of  n»*    at^ 

flotilhi  dcatroyed  M  MariS 

and  obstinui*"!?,  hohlin?  '.tt*  > 


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THE    UNITED    STATES. 


875 


been  routed  and  dispersed.  Their  flank  was  finally  turneJ,  and 
they  were  compelled  to  join  in  a  general  retreat.  The  loss  on  the 
part  of  the  Americans  was  but  about  fifty  in  killed  and  wounded. 

Abandoning  the  capitol  to  the  enemy,  Winder  drew  off  his  forces 
to  the  heights  of  Georgetown,  and,  on  the  evening  of  the  day  of 
the  battle,  the  British  army  entered  Washington,  and  burned  the 
capitol,  the  president's  house,  and  most  of  the  public  building:?. 
This  malicious  destruction  of  valuable  libraries,  records,  &c.,  is 
stigmatized  by  one  of  their  own  writers  as  "a  piece  of  Vandalism 
that  covered  the  expedition  with  disgrace ;"  it  was  excused  as  being 
in  retaliati.^^  f^  le  burning,  by  the  A'npricans,  of  the  Canadian 
Parliamei      "^oust       York. 

On  the  night  of  the  25th,  after  accomplishing  some  further  injury 
— not  entirely  confined  to  public  property — the  invading  army  was 
drawn  ofl",  and  marched  back  towards  Benedict.  A  reembarkation 
was  elTccted  on  the  30th.  Meantime,  some  of  the  larger  vessels 
having  entered  the  Potomac,  made  their  way  up  to  Alexandria; 
where  all  the  shipping  in  port  was  seized,  and  a  large  amount  of 
provisions  and  valuable  stores  was  exacted  from  the  inhabitants. 

The  vicinity  of  Baltimore  was  the  next  scene  of  operations  by  the 
armament  in  the  Chesapeake.  The  inhabitants  of  that  city,  fore- 
warned of  danger,  were  prepared  for  defence.  Koss'  landed  at 
North  Point,  at  the  entrance  of  Patapsco  river,  fifteen  miles  from 
the  city,  on  the  12th  of  September,  with  a  force  of  five  thousand 
^cn.  The  defence  was  conducted  by  General  Smith.  An  advanced 
detachment  of  three  thousand  men,  under  General  Striker,  was 
compelled  to  retire  before  the  invading  columns;  but  in  the  first 
mel6e  Ross  was  killed,  and  the  command  devolved  on  Colonel 
Brooke. 

Owing  to  the  shallowness  of  the  entrance  of  the  harbour,  and  the 
gallant  defence  of  the  protecting  forts,  M'llenry  and  Covington,  the 
British  fleet  was  unable  to  cooperate  with  the  land  forces,  and  the 
city  appearing  too  well  defended  to  render  an  attack  advisable,  the 
attempt  was  abandoned.  The  troops  reembarked  on  the  night  of 
iho  13th,  and  shortly  after,  the  fleet  sailed  for  the  South. 


376  AMEKICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


uiiAirxiEjiri    AiV. 


3P1-RATI0NS  ON  THE   COAST   OF  MAINE.  —  ATTACK   ON  PLATTS 

BURGH:    BATTLE   OF  LAKE   ClIAMPLAIN. NATAL  AFFAIRS: 

LAFITTE.  —  NEGOTIATION  AT    fillENT. THE    HART- 
FORD CONVENTION.  —  TREATY  OF  PEACE. — JACK-* 
SON'S  DEFENCE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS:  BATTLE  OP 
JANUARY  8.  —  NAVAL  ENGAGEMENTS. 


In  pursuance  of  their  plans  of  offence,  the  British  made  a  descent 
in  September,  (1814),  upon  the  coast  of  Maine.  They  took  nominal 
posscs.sion  of  all  the  eastern  district,  and  seized  upoa  several  towns 
and  villages  on  Penobscot  bay;  but  the  most  substantial  injurv 
inflicted  upon  the  Americans  in  this  quarter  was  the  destruction  of 
the  frigate  John  Adams.  This  vessel  was  pursued  up  Penobscot 
river  by  a  strong  detachment,  and,  after  an  attempt  at  defence,  was  ' 
set  on  fire,  by  order  of  her  commander,  to  prevent  her  falling  into 
the  enemy's  hands. 

At  the  same  time,  Plattsburgh,  on  Champlain,  was  threatened  bv 
a  powerful  array  of  land  and  naval  forces.  The  former  consisted  of 
twelve  thousand  disciplined  troops,  mostly  veteran  soldiers,  com- 
manded by  Governor  George  Prevost;  the  latter  under  Commo- 
dore Downie,  numbered  sixteen  vessels,  the  largest  carrying  thirty- 
seven  guns;  the  whole  flotilla,  ingluding  gun-boats,  mounted  nearly 
one  hundred  guns,  and  had  on  board  about  a  thousand  mm.   . 

I'luttsburgh  was  defended  by  about  six  thousand  troop  —regulars 
and  militia  from  adjoining  states — and  by  the  squadron  under  Coni- 
mod(jre  M'Donough,  which  was  anchored  at  the  entrance  of  the 
harbour.  The  American  fleet  was  slightly  inferior  to  that  of  the 
British,  both  in  number  of  vessels,  of  guns,  and  of  men  on  board. 
The  .Saranac  river  divided  the  opposing  land  forces;  the  British  haj 
been  occupied  for  some  days  previous  to  the  general  engagement, 
strengthening  their  position  on  the  left  bank. 

On  the  morning  of  September  11,  an  attack  was  commenced  by 
the  enemy  both  by  land  and  water.  M'Donough  s  squadron,  lying 
in  a  favourable  position,  had  an  advantage  at  the  commencement  of 


THE    UiNITED    STATES. 


877 


tlie  engagement,  which  was  maintained  unti^  its  close.  The  prin- 
cipal encounter,  by  which  the  fortune  of  the  clay  was  decided,  took 
place  between  tlie  Saratoga,  the  American  flag  ship,  and  the  Confi- 
ancc,  cominanded  by  Dowuie.  Pouring  in  a  succession  of  broadsides, 
tlie  guns  of  either,  on  the  exposed  side,  were  mostly  silenced.  Pxith 
ves.sels  then  attempted  to  take  new  po.sitions,  by  which  their  other 
guns  might  be  made  available.  The  Saratoga  succeeded;  but  the 
British  ship,  failing  to  accomplish  the  intended  movement,  la}'  help- 
lessly exposed  to  a  raking  fire,  and  v.-as  forced  to  strike.  Between 
eleven  and  twelve  o'clock,  the  whole  fleet  having  followed  this 
example,  the  engagement  cea.scd.  The  gun-boats,  however,  made 
their  escape,  while  the  attention  of  the  Americans  was  occupied 
in  securing  their  prizes. 

INfeanwhile,  the  land  division,  attempting  to  ford  the  Saranac,  met 
with  a  severe  and  decided  repulse;  and  upon  the  conclusion  of  the 
naval  engagement,  a  retreat  was  ordered.  The  expedition  thus 
ended  in  signal  failure  and  defeat.  The  loss  of  the  British  in  killed, 
wounded,  prisoners,  and  deserters,  is  said  to  have  exceeded  two 
thousand  men. 

During  the  autumn,  the  Briti.sh  navy  obtained  entire  command  of 
the  sea-coast;  and  in  the  Ontario,  a  large  ship,  recently  fitted  out  at 
Kingston,  kept  })osscssion  of  the  lake.  The  AVasp  and  the  Peacock 
were  the  last  American  armed  vessels  upon  service  abroad  at  this 
season.  The  first  of  these,  after  taking  many  prizes,  among  others, 
two  British  national  vessels,  foundered  at  sea,  or  went  to  pieces  on 
some  unknown  coast,  as  she  was  never  afterwards  heard  from.  The 
Peacock,  eluding  the  blockade,  came  safe  to  port,  having  made  a 
successful  cruise,  and  captured  a  number  of  merchant  vessels. 

Another  piece  of  service  was  accomplished  in  the  month  of  Octo- 
ber, by  an  expedition  under  Conunodore  Patterson,  against  a  settle- 
ment of  French  rovers,  who  harboured  at  Barataria  bay,  a  short 
distance  v.-estward  from  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  These  out- 
laws professed  to  cruise  exclusively  against  Spanish  commerce,  but 
they  were  considered  as  little  other  than  pirates.  One  of  their 
number  was  the  noted  Lafitte,  concerning  whom  as  many  improba- 
ble tales  have  been  told  as  those  connected  with  the  piracies  of  Kidd. 
Ten  vessels,  belonging  to  this  fraternity,  were  seized,  after  being 
deserted  by  their  crews. 

AbouL  this  time  arrived  reports  fi-om  the  commissioners  appointed 
to  treat  for  peace.    Negotiations  !  .d  been  opened  at  Ghent,  but  the 


878 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


demands  of  Great  Britain  were  too  extravagant  to  require  a  moment'a 
consideration.  Among  other  requisitions,  the  United  States  were 
called  upon  to  forego  any  future  acquisition  of  Indian  lands  at  the 
north-west;  to  abstain  from  providing  for  frontier  defence  by  forts, 
or  a  flotilla  on  the  lakes;  to  cede  a  portion  of  the  north-eastern  ter- 
ritory to  Great  Britain;  and  to  give  up  their  privileges  respecting 
the  coast  fishery. 

The  friends  of  the  administration,  at  this  juncture,  were  alarmed 
and  indignant  at  a  movement  in  New  England,  which  threatened  a 
moro  serious  rupture  between  different  sections  of  the  Union  than 
any  that  had  preceded  it.  In  response  to  a  call  by  the  legislature  of 
Massachusetts,  delegates  were  appointed  from  all  the  New  England 
states — in  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  and  Rhode  Island,  chosen 
directly  by  the  legislatures — to  meet  at  Uartford  on  the  loth  of  De- 
cember, for  the  purpose  of  devising  an4  proposing  such  amendments 
to  the  constitution  as  might  secure  rights  of  representation,  &c.,  to  the 
northern  states,  equal  to  such  as  were  enjoyed  by  those  of  the  south, 
and  for  general  consultation  upon  the  "danger  to  which  the  eastern 
section  of  the  Union"  was  "exposed  by  the  course  of  the  war." 

Notwithstanding  a  vast  amount  of  obloquy,  and  wide-spread  accusa- 
tion of  treasonable  designs,  the  convention  met  accordingly,  and,  after 
a  secret  session  of  between  two  and  three  weeks,  the  delegates  submit- 
ted an  address  to  the  New  England  legislatures,  setting  forth  the  con- 
clusions at  which  they  had  arrived.  These,  in  addition  to  a  recitation 
of  grievances,  related  principally  to  the  disputed  question  respecting 
the  power  of  the  federal  government  over  the  militia;  and  to  the 
measures  requisite  for  local  defence  against  the  enemy.  The  pro- 
posed constiiutional  amendments  were  chiefly  advisory — that  the 
power  of  congress  in  respect  to  warlike  measures  should  be  curtailed 
by  the  requirement  of  a  two-thirds  vote,  ard  that  slaves  should  be  ex- 
cluded in  the  representative  comj)Utation.  The  general  tone  of  the 
document  was  more  moderate  and  less  treasonable  than  had  been 
anticipated. 

The  cessation  of  war  in  Europe  havini;  removed  all  substantial 
occasion  for  further  collision  of  interest  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  United  States,  the  former  abated  her  demands,  and  a  treaty  of 
peace  was  signed  at  Ghent  in  the  month  of  December.  The  claims 
respecting  impressment  aid  right  of  search  were  left  undecided,  aa 
only  relating  to  a  state  of  war  which  it  were  unnecessary  to  antici- 
pate; privileges  formerly  enjoyed  by  the  United  States'  fishermen 


TUE  UNITED   STATES. 


879 


on  the  British  American  coast,  and  a  right  of  navigation  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi, before  secured  to  Great  Britain,  were  abandoned;  in  all 
other  respects  the  parties  remained  in  statu  quo. 

This  joyful  intelligence  did  /lot  reach  the  United  States  until  Feb- 
ruary, a  period  when  the  whole  nation  was  rejoicing  over  the  most 
brilliant  piece  of  success  that  had  attended  its  arms  on  land,  through-  . 
out  the  war.  In  the  month  of  November,  General  Jackson,  being  in 
occupation  of  Fensacola,  temporari!}-  seized  from  the  Spanish  au- 
thorities on  account  of  the  landing  of  British  forces  in  that  quarter, 
obtained  information  of  an  intended  attack  upon  New  Orleans. 
After  forwarding  orders  for  raising  militia,  and  for  other  defensive 
preparations,  he  repaired  thither  in  person,  and  arrived,  with  a  small 
force  of  regulars,  on  the  1st  of  December, 

With  all  the  ardour  and  energy  of  his  character,  he  engaged  in 
the  difficult  work  of  organizing  an  army,  from  materials  the  most  in- 
congruous and  ill-suited  to  regular  military  operations.  !N[en  of 
different  nations  and  colour,  utterly  unused  to  the  discipline  of  a 
camp;  convicts  from  the  prisons;  a  portion  of  those  pirates  or  pri- 
vateers previously  ousted  from  Barataria;  were  marshalled  and  })Ut 
in  such  condition  for  service  as  time  and  circumstances  would  admit. 
The  work  of  throwing  up  fortifications  was  carried  on  with  uniiiter- 
mitting  ardour. 

In  the  midst  of  these  preparations,  and  before  the  arrival  of  troops 
expected  from  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  upon  which  the  general 
placed  his  chief  reliance,  a  British  fleet  appeared  at  the  entrance  of 
Lake  Borgne.  This  was  the  squadron  recently  occupying  the  Ches- 
apeake, together  v  ith  other  vessel-s  from  England,  bringin"-  over 
large  reinforcements  of  troops.  The  whole  force,  including  sailors 
and  marines,  exceeded  fifteen  thou.sand  men.  Most  of  the  troops 
had  been  disciplined  and  inured  to  service  in  the  continental  war. 
The  American  flotiMa  of  gun-boats  on  the  lake  made  a  gallant  de- 
fence, but  was  finally  captured,  and  the  main  British  force,  passing 
up  in  boats,  efioctcd  a  landing  at  the  western  shore. 

nie  advanced  division  of  two  thousand  men,  after  gaining  the 
bank  of  the  Afississippi,  fifteen  miles  below  the  city,  commenced  its 
march  up  the  river.  On  the  night  of  December  23d,  a  .spirited  attack 
was  made  by  the  Americans  upon  this  detachment,  a  schooner  in 
the  river  opening  fire  at  the  same  tirfte  that  the  engagement  com- 
mcneod  on  shore.  The  British,  attaining  a  defensible  position,  finally 
mainta.  \,^.d  their  ground,  and  the  assailants  drew  off. 


lii 


rt 


880 


AMEKICA   ILLUSTRATED. 
« 


Reinforcements  had  meanwhile  arrived  from  Tennessee  and  W\a 
sissip}>i,  until  the  force  at  New  Orleans  amounted  to  about  five  thou- 
sand men.  The  emergency  of  tlie  occasion,  and  the  disturbed 
condition  of  the  city,  induced  Jackson  to  proclaim  martial  law,  and 
to  take  such  measures  as  should  prevent  the  legislative  assembly 
from  counteracting  his  plans  of  defence  by  any  oilers  of  capitulation. 
The  governor,  Claibourne,  had  submitted  to  Jackson's  authority,  ami, 
entering  with  zeal  into  the  plans  of  the  general,  he  anticipated  llie 
danger  of  any  such  movement,  by  a  forcible  dissolution  of  the 
assenibls'. 

The  day  following  the  first  engagement,  Jackson  had  taken  a 
position  some  four  miles  below  the  cit}"",  on  the  left  baidc,  where  a 
trench  was  carried  across  the  entire  strip  of  dry  land  from  the  river 
bank  down  the  gradual  declivity  to  the  swamp.  The  embankment 
was  enlarged  and  strengthened  b}'  piles  of  movables,  cotton  bales, 
&c.  An  armed  vessel,  lying  in  the  river, was  so  stationed  as  to  flank 
the  ditch  and  command  the  ai)[)roach  from  below:  works  were  also 
erected  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  enemy  attempted  to  storm  these  fortifications  on  the  2Sth, 
and  failing  in  that,  they  erected  batteries  to  play  upon  the  American 
works.  A  heavy  cannonade  on  both  sides,  on  the  1st  of  Januaiy 
(ISlo),  resulted  in  the  silencing  of  the  British  guns.  On  the  4th, 
reinforcements  arrived  from  Kentucky. 

An  interval  of  a  few  days  was  then  spent  in  preparations  for  a 
decisive  assault.  A  canal  was  cut  by  which  a  number  of  boats  were 
transported  from  the  lake  to  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying 
over  a  detachment  to  the  right  bank.  This  was  elllcted  on  the  ni.ijht 
of  the  7tli,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  following  day,  the  main  arm  v., 
under  command  of  Sir  Edward  rackenham,  assaulud  the  American 
entrenchments.  The  desperate  character  of  an  rUtack,  at  such  fcii  I'ul 
disadvantage,  is  evident  from  the  result.  The  Americans,  firing 
from  covert,  lost  less  than  twenty  men  in  killed  and  wounded,  w  Inle 
the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  not  far  froui  two  thousand  men.  Aniona 
the  slain  was  General  Packenham,  who  fell  leading  his  men  to  tiu; 
charge. 

The  detachment  on  the  right  bank,  in  the  full  tide  of  success, 
having  diiven  from  their  entrenchments  and  defeated  a  greatly  su- 
perior force,  Avas  recalled,  wlien  the  fortune  of  the  day  was  decided, 
and  the  whole  army,  retreating  unmolested  to  the  lake,  reembarkcd. 
The  only  success  that  attended  this  expedition  was  the  subsequent 


Ir 


THE   UNITED  S  T  A  T  E  S . 


881 


capture  of  Fort  Bowyer,  at  ^roLilc,  wliicli,  being  garrisoned  by  less 
than  four  ImndrcJ  men,  .surrendered  on  the  ISth  of  February. 

Several  naval  eng.'igenient.s  took  place  before  news  of  the  peace 
could  be  generally  circulated.  On  the  loth  of  January  the  frigate 
President,  commanded  by  Decatur,  attempting  to  get  to  sea  from 
New  York,  was  intercepted  by  the  British  blockading  squadron,  and 
after  a  sharp  engagement  with  the  Endymion,  a  frigate  of  forty  guns, 
was  compelled  to  strike  by  the  advance  of  other  vessels  to  the  sup- 
port of  tlie  enemy.  The  Constitution,  iu  the  month  of  February, 
made  prize  in  a  single  action  of  theCyane  and  the  Levant,  carrying 
respectively  twenty-four  and  eighteen  gun.s.  This  wcs  accomi)lished 
by  adroit  manoeuvring,  so  as  to  keep  beyond  reach  of  their  guns, 
while  her  own,  of  heavier  metal,  could  tell  with  destructive  elfect. 
The  Hornet  and  P^'acock  each  caj)t  .red  a  British  national  vc^.sel. 
The  Nautilus,  taken  by  the  hitter  on  the  oOth  of  June,  1815,  was 
immediately  restored,  ujton*  communicatior>  of  inlclligenee,  satisfac- 
tory to  the  commander  of  the  llornet,  th.it  peace  .lad  beei  .oncluded. 


uiliiiiriJCjii    AV", 

WAR  WITH  ALGIERS. TARIFF:  NATIONAL  BANK.  —  MONROE, 

PRKSIDENT. — JACK;>ON'S  SEMINOLE   CAMPAIGN.  —  CESSION 
OF   FLORIDA    BY   SPAIN.  —  ADMISSION   Oi    MISSOURI:    THE 
COMPROMISE. — MONROE'S    SECOND    TERM. ADMINIS- 
TRATION  OP    JOHN    QCINCY    ADAMS. ELECTION    OF 

ANDREW    JACKSON. — THE    TARIFF. — NULLIFI- 

CATIO.N     IN    SOUTH    CAROLINA. THE    UNITED 

STATE  S'    B  A  N  K.  —  I  N  D  I  A  N     R  E  M  0  VAL  S. 

BLACK    HAWK.  —  T 'i  L    CUEROKEES. 

Almost  immediately  after  the  conclusion  of  peace  with  Great 
Britain,  the  attention  of  congress  being  directed  by  the  president  to 
late  outrages  ujion  our  ctnimerce  by  Barbary  cruisers,  war  was  de- 
clared again.st  Algiers.  A  squadron  of  ten  vessels,  commanded  by 
Decatur — to  be  fjllowed  by  another  under  Bainbridge — was  dis- 
patched to  the  Mediterranean  in  the  month  of  Jklay  following.  The 
capture  of  two  armed  vessels,  one  of  them  being  the  largest  m  his 


15  ! 

I! 


882 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


navy,  so  alarmed  the  dey,  that  he  at  once  concluded  a  treaty  oj 
which  the  United  States  were  for  ever  freed  from  the  disgraceful 
payment  of  tribute",  and  all  American  prisoners  were  freed  without 
ransom.    His  vessels  were  gratuitously  returned  to  him. 

From  Algiers,  Decatur  sailed  for  Tunis  and  Tripoli,  both  of  which 
nations  were  compelled  to  furnish  indemnity  for  the  sufferance  of 
capture  by  the  British  of  United  States'  vessels,  while  in  their  ports. 
His  whole  mission  accomplished,  the  commodore  joined  Bain- 
bridge  at  Gibralter. 

At  the  next  session  of  congress,  1815-16,  a  long  and  vehement 
discussion  arose  respecting  the  establishment  of  tlie  new  tariff".  All 
the  opposing  interests  of  the  producer  and  manufacturer  were  brought 
to  bear  upon  the  question.  As  finally  settled,  a  judicious  discrimina- 
tion was  made  between  those  articles  which  could  be  produced  or 
manufactured  in  perfection  at  home,  and  those,  being  at  tlie  same 
time  articles  of  necessity,  for  which  wS  must  still  be  partially  or 
wholly  dependent  upon  foreign  nations. 

A  new  national  bank,  upon  specie-paying  principles,  and  having 
a  capital  of  thirty-five  millions,  mostly  to  be  subscribed  for  in  United 
States'  stocks,  was  also  established  at  this  session.  The  Union  was 
extended,  toward  the  close  of  the  year,  by  the  admission  of  Indiann, 
as  a  separate  state.  The  presidential  election  again  recurring,  Jatncs 
Monroe,  secretary  of  state  under  Madison,  was  elected  to  the  higliost 
offico,  and  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  to  that  of  vice-president.  The  inau- 
guration took  place  on  the  4th  of  March,  1817. 

During  the  year,  additional  treaties  were  elfected  with  most  of  the 
western  Indians,  by  which  their  title  was  extinguished  to  large  dis- 
tricts, at  this  time  fust  filling  up  with  an  cnterfirising  population 
from  the  cast.  At  the  south,  trouble  was  already  brewing  bctwi'on 
the  Seminoles  and  the  white  settlors.  Spain  still  retaining  her  title 
to  both  East  and  "West  Florida,  the  chastisement  of  the  Indians  by 
pursuing  them  into  a  foreign  jurisdiction  became  a  delicate  matter, 
but  the  necessities  of  the  case  seeming  to  rcfjuire  some  action.  Gen- 
eral Jackson,  with  a  large  force  of  Tennessee  volunteers,  was  dis 
patched  against  thein.  Tlie  operations  of  the  campaign  in  regard  to 
tl  conquest  of  In<iian  territory,  will  be  found  briefly  rccaj)itulatod 
in  a  subsequent  ehaptt-T.  A  high  handed  proceedure  of  the  general, 
In  the  trial  by  court  martial,  and  execution  of  two  British  subjects, 
Arbuthnot  and  Ambristcr,  for  inciting  the  In<lians  to  war,and  lending 
them  aid  and  assistance,  has  been  heavily  censured.    The  seizure  of 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


383 


the  Spanish  capital,  Pensacola,  and  the  fort  of  St.  ^Nfarks,  in  West 
Florida,  also  accomplished  during  this  winter  campaign,  gave  occa- 
fiion  for  much  injurious  comment  abroad  upon  American  policy. 
The  latter  event  toolj  place  early  in  1818. 

Charges  of  having  exceeded  his  authority  by  these  unwarrantable 
acts  were  brought  against  Jackson,  and  the  whole  subject  of  the 
Seminole  campaign  was  debated  at  length  in  congress,  lie  was 
finally  sustained  by  a  decided  majority  in  his  conduct  of  the  aftains  in 
question.  The  desire  of  government  to  maintain  peaceful  relations 
with  Spain,  and  to  acrpiire  the  Floridas  by  amicable  treaty,  had  been 
apparent  from  the  whole  policy  pursued  by  the  United  States  during 
the  struggle  of  the  former  country  with  1  cr  revolted  American  col- 
onics. The  forces  of  the  United  States  had  also  been  employed, 
during  the  year  preceding,  to  expel  from  Amelia  island,  on  the  coast 
of  East  Florida,  a  band  of  lawless  adventurers,  who,  while  threat- 
ening the  Spanish  possessions  on  the  main,  were  engaged  in  the 
elave  trade,  in  smuggling,  and  in  general  depredation. 

A  treaty,  providing  f  :>r  the  ces.sion  of  Florida,  was  finally  concluded 
with  Spain  toward  the  close  of  the  year  1820,  the  United  States  thus 
obtaining  an  acquisition  to  its  territory  of  greater  iinportauoe  in 
respect  to  position  than  to  intrinsic  value.  Meatiwliile,  iticrra-itig 
prosperity  attended  upon  the  enterprise  of  individuals  in  extending 
civilization  at  the  west  and  south.  Mississippi,  Illinc's,  and  Alubatna 
had  been  consecutively  admitted  to  the  Union — the  first  in  1817, 
the  second  in  1818,  and  the  third  in  1819.  Conununieation  with 
the  west  had  been  rendered  practicable  by  the  opening  of  the  Cum- 
berland road,  a  national  work,  carried  out  in  consetpieiH'o  of  arrange- 
ments made  with  the  state  of  Ohio,  as  a  consideration  for  the  cession 
of  western  lands.  The  power  of  congress  in  respect  to  internal 
improvements,  other  than  those  necessarily  connected  with  juibliu 
enterprise,  as  the  construction  of  military  roads,  the  erection  of 
light-houses,  the  improvement  of  harbouns,  «5cc.,  has  never  been  sat- 
isfactorily decided. 

The  rtiost  important  question  brought  before  congress  at  its  sessions 
in  1820  and  1821,  was  \\\)vn  the  admission  of  the  territory  of  Mis- 
souri into  the  Union  ns  a  sovereign  state.  Tlio  introduction  of  an 
amendment  providing  for  the  exclusion  of  slavery  within  its  limits, 
08  tiie  condition  ujmmi  which  the  application  for  a(lniissi(m  shouM  be 
entertained,  gave  occasion  for  tin*  most  excited  and  angry  discussion 
that  had  vet  resulted  from  any  issue  taken  between  the  north  and 
Vol.  IV.-- 63 


884 


AMETwICA   ILLUSTKATED. 


ir 
It? 

I  i 

I   1 


the  south.  The  matter  was  finally  adjusted,  by  admission  of  the  new 
state,  with  no  further  restriction  than  that  no  act  should  be  passed 
by  its  legislature  in  contravention  of  the  constitutional  rights  of  cit- 
izens emigrating  thither  from  other  states.  This  proviso  was  called 
for  by  a  clause  in  a  constitution  formed  by  the  people  of  the  terri- 
tory, providing  for  the  future  exclusion  of  free  negroes  and 
mulattocs. 

On  the  other  hand,  those  opposed  to  the  extension  of  southern  in- 
fluence and  institutions,  succeeded,  by  a  large  majority,  in  appending 
to  the  bill  a  proviso  that  thenceforth  slavery  should  be  prohibited  in 
the  territory  of  the  United  States  lying  north  of  the  parallel  of  thirty- 
six  degrees  tlijrty  minutes,  the  northern  boundary  of  the  present 
state  of  y\.rkanpaH.  The  separation  of  Maine  from  Massachusetts, 
and  its  admission  to  the  Union  was  effected  during  the  discussion  of 
the  Missouri  question. 

Mr.  Monroe,  shortly  after  his  entry  upon  a  second  official  term,  in 
1821,  ajipointed  Andrew  Jackson  to  the  office  of  governor  of  the 
new  territory  of  Florida.  In  dealing  with  the  Spanish  officials  whom 
he  was  called  upon  to  supersede,  the  proceedings  of  the  general  were, 
as  usual,  rather  high  hande<l.  The  keys  of  the  capitol  at  I'ensacola 
were  formally  di>livcred  up  by  Jose  Cavalla,  the  .S[)anish  governor, 
on  the  seventh  of  July;  a  refusal  or  neglect  on  his  part  to  deliver 
over  certain  public  documents  led  to  his  temporary  arrest  by  order 
of  Jackson. 

'{'he  prineijinl  political  events  during  the  closing  term  of  ^[onroo's 
administratit>n,  were  the  lecognition  of  the  independence  of  tlic 
republics  of  South  America;  a  treaty  with  England  for  the  more 
elVeetual  sui)pression  of  the  slave  trade ;  a  settlement  of  the  boundary 
on  the  l^icifie,  which  should  limit  future  settlements  by  l?ussia  or 
the  Unitc(l  States;  and  a  protective  modification  of  the  tarill".  The 
last  measure  was  not  earricil  without  vehement  opposition. 

In  1*21,  the  venerable;  La  Fayette,  upon  express  invitation  ex- 
truded by  congress,  visited  the  United  Stales,  where  he  pjiont 
nearly  nn  entire  year  in  nuiking  a  general  tour  of  the  country. 
Througliout  his  journey  he  met  with  the  most  enthusiastio  reception, 
nnd,  ere  his  dei)arture,  he  received  substantial  tokens  of  the  gratitude 
of  the  nation,  in  the  grant  of  a  lownsliip  of  land,  and  the  sum  ul 
two  hundred  thousan<l  dollars,  liy  niiju-oj^riation  of  congress. 

The  ascendeney  of  r<;publican  principles,  as  opposed  to  the  doc- 
Uinea  of  the  original  federal  party,  was  buniciontly  eviDocd  hy  the 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


385 


triumphant  election  of  three  successive  republican  presidents,  and 
the  retention  of  oflicc  by  each  of  them,  for  a  term  of  eight  years.  At 
the  election  in  1824,  new  elements  entered  into  the  political  contro- 
versy. Candidates  were  brought  forward  from  the  four  great  koc 
tions  of  the  Union:  New  England  was  represented  by  John  Quincy 
Adams,  son  of  the  second  president;  Virginia  by  Mr.  Crawford; 
the  south  by  Andrew  Jackson;  and  the  west  by  Ilcnry  Clay. 
Adams  and  Jackson  were  the  prominent  candidates,  but,  us  neither 
obtained  a  majority,  the  election  devolved,  a  second  time,  upon  the 
house  of  representatives.  The  former  was  chosen  president,  aiLhough 
Jackson  had  received  a  larger  number  of  popular  votes. 

During  the  four  years  of  Adams'  administration,  the  country 
remained  at  peace  with  all  foreign  nations.  The  messages  to  con- 
gress and  other  public  addresses  of  the  president,  excited  general 
admiration  by  their  ability,  and  the  dignity,  integrity,  and  fir:n- 
ncss  whieh  they  exhibited.  In  accordance  with  principles  set  fortli 
in  his  inaugural  address.  President  Adams  displayed  great  mod- 
eration in  the  exercise  of  his  powers  of  removal,  considering  it  a 
matter  of  gross  impropriety  that  the  offices  of  government  should 
bo  bestow. d  as  rewards  for  party  services,  or  as  mere  tokens  of 
personal  favour. 

Toward  the  close  of  this  administration,  the  revival  of  the  dispute 
respecting  a  protective  tarilf  renewed  all  the  former  antagonism 
between  the  north  and  the  south.  The  law  passed  relative  to  this 
subject,  was  finally  so  altered  and  amended  as  to  favour  the  interests 
of  the  rnanufaeturiiig  states.  The  presidential  election,  recurring  at 
tliis  period,  gave  occasion  for  a  display  of  party  violence  and  ani- 
mosity seldom  before  witnessed  in  America.  The  result  was  the 
choice  of  Andrew  Jackson  for  ])resident,  ami  of  John  C.  Calhoun, 
of  South  Carolina,  for  vice-president.  The  inaugui-ation  took  place 
Mareli  -Ith,  1829. 

A  writer  in  Lardner'a  Cycloptcdia,  says  of  this  result,  "Jackson 
had  been  the  rude  soldier;  ever  ready  to  outstep  the  bounds  of 
le<;ulity;  licree  in  his  numners  and  di-ehirations;  breathing  war  and 
delianee.  The  fears  that  his  election  would  prove  tlie  siijual,  not 
only  of  hostilities  with  foreign  power.'',  but  usurpation  or  violence 
at  hoiiu',  were  general;  yet  the  snmo  popular  breath  that  wafted 
Jaek.s<)n  to  the  presiilency,  impressed  upon  him  at  the  same  time  so 
itrung  a  i;ense  of  his  duty,  that  nn'tal  in  the  furnaee  eould  not  tako 
a  newer  or  .softer  temper  than  the  iiew  president."     Tliat  he  had, 


886 


AMEEICA   ILLCSTEATED. 


however,  lost  nothing  of  his  former  firmness,  is  evident  from  tho 
whole  course  of  his  admmistitiUon. 

The  late  amendment  in  the  tariff  produced  great  excitement 
and  opposition  throughout  the  southern  states.  South  Carolina 
took  tlie  lead  in  denouncing  the  alleged  partiality  of  the  system, 
and  in  maintaining  the  prinidples  of  a  forcible  assertion  of  rights 
on  the  }\nrt  of  those  states  aggrieved  by  its  operation.  The 
speech  of  llayne,  in  the  United  States  senate,  upon  this  topic,  called 
forth  from  the  great  orator  and  statesman,  Daniel  Webster,  a 
reply  which  has  ever  been  considered  one  of  his  ablest  and  most 
forcible  efforts. 

Whc'n  this  feeling  finally  broke  out  into  an  open  determination,  on 
tho  part  of  the  state  of  Sooth  Carolina,  as  expressed  by  a  convention 
called  by  a  majority  of  its  e'eciors,  to  resist  the  authority  of  the 
United  States  in  the  collection  of  revenues,  the  president  took  a 
firm  and  decided  position.  By  bis  proclamation  of  December  10th, 
1832,  he  expressed  a  fixed  determination  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  the 
executive,  by  carrying  oat  the  laws  of  the  United  States  at  all 
hazards.  At  the  same  tirae^  no  mnecessary  violence  of  hmguage 
was  made  use  of,  but  the  state  of  South  Carolina  was  called  upon 
in  persuasive  ami  moderate  tones  to  preclude  the  necessity  for  e«)cr' 
civc  measures,  by  a  voluntary  reijunciation  of  the  treasonable  doc- 
trines recently  made  manifest. 

Immediate  preparations  were  commenced  for  warlike  operations 
— should  such  prove  inevitable — by  garrisoning  and  strengtlicning 
the  forts  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbour  of  Charleston.  The  party 
in  South  Carolina  opf>oscfl  to  the  attempted  nullification  of  the  lawa 
of  the  United  States,  being  a  large  minority,  made  renewed  exertions, 
at  this  erisi.H,  to  avert  the  threatened  calamity.  A  modification  of 
the  tarifi'  introduced  and  carried  in  congress  by  Mr.  Clay,  by  way 
of  compro'.ii.-f,  allayed  the  angry  feeling  at  the  south,  and  put  an 
end  to  lhre;its  of  secession. 

Jackson  was  reelected  at  the  close  of  his  first  term,  Martin  Van 
Buren  being,  at  the  same  tioae,  chosen  vice-president.  During  the 
wh(ile  period  of  las  retention  of  office,  the  credit  of  tho  country  waa 
maintained  with  foreign  nationa.  In  July,  1831,  an  nrrangeniont, 
long  postponed,  waa  concladed  with  Fnincp,  by  which  a  specifio'l 
indcninity  was  .secured  (or  farmer  dt'pre(hitions  upon  American 
commerce.  The  most  important  domestic  transactions  of  this  admin- 
iatration  related  to  Indian  aflairs.     Those  which  aroused  the  ;;reatcst 


J 


THE  UNITED    STATES. 


387 


degree  of  party  strife  were  connected  with  tlie  proceedings  of  the 
president  c^jricerning  the  United  States  Bank. 

Deeming  this  in.stitution,  if  not  of  unconstitutional  inception,  at 
least  a  dangerous  agent  for  the  management  of  fiscal  concerns,  he 
made  use  of  the  veto  power  to  annul  the  action  of  congress  granting 
a  renewal  of  its  charter.  In  the  year  following,  (1833),  the  president 
ordered  a  withdrawal  of  tlic  public  funds  from  this  bank,  then  tlieir 
place  of  dcpf>sit:  they  were  subsequently  intrusted  to  certain  state 
bank.-? — "jM;t  banks,"  as  they  were  denominated  by  the  opposition. 
In  carrying  out  this  measure,  during  a  recess  of  congress,  Jackson 
rera'jved  from  the  olTice  of  secretary  of  the  treasury,  Mr.  Duane,  who 
had  declined  to  second  his  views,  and  aj)pointed  Mr.  Taney.  A 
vote  of  cerigure  was  pasaetl  by  the  senate  relative  to  this  proceed- 
ing on  the  part  of  the  executive,  but  was  afterwards  expunged, 
(January  lOlh,  1837.) 

To  the  president's  hostility  towards  the  bank,  many  have  attri- 
buted it*  alttmate  downfall,  and,  in  no  small  measure,  the  commercial 
criais  which  gave  so  ruinous — but  perhaps  beneficial — a  check  to 
the  «pec'ilative  mania  of  the  period.  The  eflect  of  the  failure  of  that 
institution,  hiis,  doubtless,  been  exaggerated,  and,  for  the  cause,  wc 
most  look  rather  to  the  misconduct  of  its  managers,  and  to  immense 
losses  8ttstained  by  the  refusal,  upon  various  pretexts,  of  several 
ittatcs  to  make  gwxl  their  liabilities. 

Tlie  S'lbjeet  of  the  removal  of  the  Indian  tribes  to  lands  westward 
of  the  Miff^ifisippi,  was  long  a  matter  of  great  difficulty,  and,  in  the 
districts  where  the.«e  races  were  located,  of  engrossing  interest.  The 
standing  ground  of  contention  was  a  disavowal  by  the  Indians  of 
the  authority  of  those  chiefs  who  undertook  to  treat  in  behalf  of 
the  tribe*.  In  1S31,  a  portion  of  the  tribe  of  Sacs,  of  Illinois,  headed 
by  their  chief,  Black  Hawk,  refused  to  remove  from  their  settlements 
on  iiock  river.  Th«'y  were  expelled  l>y  force,  although  without 
blood^hetl,  but,  in  the  year  following,  numbers  of  them  returned  to 
their  old  qnarters. 

Blorxl  wa*  firirt  shed  by  the  wliites — it  appears,  upon  very  insulTi 
cicnt  ocra«ion;  and,  the  war  once  commenced,  IJl.uk  Hawk  and 
bis  warrior?  were  signally  successful  in  several  skirmi.slies.  Finally, 
worn  out  hy  fatigue,  hard  fare,  and  exposure,  they  were  cut  ofiTand 
inercih>«»ly  maj>«acre<l  by  a  large  force,  under  General  Atkinson. 
Plack  Hawk  made  liis  escape,  but  subsequently  surrendered  himself 
lo  the  United  States'  authorities.     Ho  was  detained  as  a  hostage 


8S8 


AMERICA   ILLUSTHATE1>. 


until  Jane,  1S33,  wlicn  lie  was  set  at  liberty.  In  company  with 
other  Indian  chiefs,  he  visited  many  of  the  eastern  cities,  every 
where  exciting  much  attention  and  curiosity. 

Many  of  the  southern  tribes  were  induced  to  emigrate  peaceably; 
the  greatest  difficulty  was  in  dealing  with  the  Cherokees  and  Semi- 
noles.  The  former,  to  the  number  of  about  eighteen  thousand,  were 
mostly  located  in  the  northern  part  of  Georgia.  They  had  made 
great  advances  in  civilization,  and  were  governed  by  a  legislation 
of  their  own.  The  United  States  had  stijiulated,  in  1802,  with  the 
state  of  Georgia,  to  extinguish  the  title  of  tlie  Clicrokecs  to  lands 
within  that  jurisdiction,  "as  early  as  the  same  could  be  peaceably 
obtained  upon  reasonable  terms." 

Efibrts  to  effect  a  removal  of  the  tribe  had  been  partially  success- 
ful, but  the  Georgia  legislature,  impatient  at  delay,  in  1821,  j)a.<.sed 
sundry  acts — pronounced  unconstitutional  by  many  able  jurists — 
encroaching  u^x)n  the  rights  and  personal  privileges  of  the  Indians. 
Finding  their  jxxsitioii  insecure,  a  large  party  of  the  Cherokees, 
headed  by  Major  Kidge,  favoured  an  emigration  of  the  whole  nation. 
ITiose  of  this  opinion  attended  a  council,  called  in  ISJio,  and  con- 
cluded a  treaty  with  J.  T.  Schermerhorn,  commissioner  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States,  by  which  it  was  agreed  that,  upon  the  receipt 
of  reasonable  compensation  for  the  losses  necessarily  sustained  Uj»on 
remov.aI,  the  whole  tribe  should  emigrate  westward  of  the  Mi.«sissijipi. 

A  military  force  was  called  into  requisition  to  compel  submis.-ion 
to  the  terms  of  this  treaty;  but  the  Indians,  although  denying  the 
authority  of  those  who  had  undertaken  to  act  for  the  tribe,  made  no 
overt  resistance.  The  Georgian  Cherokees,  removed  to  the  western 
territory,  have  continued  to  prosj)er,  pursuing  the  arts  of  agriculture, 
and  im|.'roving  in  civilization  and  education.  Tiui  Choetaws,  Chick- 
asaw.', and  Creeks,  occupying  separate  tracts  assigned  them  west  of 
the  Mi.-*.«iffiJ!ppi,  have  also,  to  a  greater  or  leas  extent,  adopted  the 
cuiiU/m:>  of  the  whitea. 


rJIE  UNITED  STATES.  ggg 


LiiAiriiiiii    Avi, 

TBB   SEMINOLE  WAR.  —  EARLY    HISTORY   OF   THE   FLv;RIDA   IN- 
D!AXS.  —  WAR   OF    1818.  —  INDIAN    TREATY   OF    1823:    OF    1832. 
—  REFUSAL  OF  THE   SEMINOLES   TO   REMOVE.  —  DESTRUCTION 
OP.  DADE'S   DETACHMENT.  —  MILITARY    OPERATIONS   OF 
GENERALS   SCOTT   AND    JESSUP.  —  UNSATISFACTORY 
RESULTS   OF    NEGOTIATION.  —  EXPEDITIONS   OF    COL- 
ONELS TAYLOR  AND  HARNEY. — GRADUAL  CESSA- 
TION OF  HOSTILITIES.  —  RECENT  DIFFICULTIES. 

From  the  time  of  the  conquest  by  De  Soto,  to  the  acquisition  of 
the  territory  of  Florida  by  the  United  States,  the  peninsula  contin- 
ued a  theatre  for  scenes  of  desiiltory  but  ferocious  warfare.  In  the 
bloody  contests  between  the  French  and  Spanish  settlers,  the  unfor- 
tunate aborigines  were  ruinously  involved;  their  agricultural  pur- 
suits were  interrupted,  and  their  numbers  were  greatly  reduced  by 
warfare,  and  the  want  attendant  upon  their  unsettled  condition. 

According  to  their  usual  custom,  the  Spaniards,  while  they  con- 
tinued to  oppress  and  destroy  the  original  proprietors  of  the  soil, 
were  not  wanting  in  endeavours  to  promote  their  spiritual  wellare. 
From  St.  Augu.stine,  numbers  of  zealous  ecclesiastics  were  sent  forth 
among  the  Indians.  Both  within  the  limits  of  the  present  state  of 
Florida,  and  far  in  the  wilderness  of  the  north  and  west,  these  wor- 
thy mi.'isionaries  devoted  their  lives  to  the  instruction  of  the  natives 
in  their  religious  faith,  and  in  the  arts  of  civilization. 

At  the  commcuceinont  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  principal 
tribes  of  Florida  were  the  hostile  nations  of  the  Yemasses  and  the 
Appalachecs;  but  after  the  northern  portion  of  the  peninsula  was 
overrun  by  the  invading  forces  of  Governor  ^roore,  of  South  Caro- 
lina, these  reduced  and  scattered  natives  united  and  moved  farther 
southward.  From  this  period  they  were  known  as  Scminolcs  ("wan- 
derers"). Causes  of  quarrel  continued  to  exist  between  them  and 
the  white  settlers  of  the  border:  fugitive  slaves  from  the  northern 
plantations  found  an  a.sylum  among  the  Indians,  and  mutual  wrongs 
and  outrages  kept  alive  the  old  feelings  of  hostility.  At  the  period 
of  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States,  the  Indians  had  flour- 
ishing settlements  in  West  Florida,  particularly  ui)ou  the  St.  Afarka 


390 


AMERICA   ILLUSTPvATED. 


and  Oscilla  rivers,  and  in  tlio  vicinity  of  the  lake  of  Miccosukie. 
Tlicir  inroads  had  become  so  frequent  and  dangerous,  that  it  was 
determined  to  break  up  tlieir  quarters  in  this  region,  and  in  March  of 
1818,  these  settlenients  were  laid  waste  by  an  army  of  several  thou- 
sand men,  under  General  Jackson,  and  the  inhabitants  were  driven 
to  East  Florida  and  into  the  interior.  Five  years  later,  on  the  18th 
of  September,  l':523,  a  treaty,  known  as  the  treaty  of  Moultrie  creek, 
was  ellectcd  by  United  States'  commissioners  with  upwards  of  thirty 
of  tlio  Seminole  chiefs,  the  principal  provisions  of  which  were  for 
confining  the  Indians  to  a  specilied  district  in  the  interior.  Mutual 
comjtlaints  were  still  made  by  the  Indians  and  frontier  whites  of 
reciprocal  injuries,  and  the  removal  of  the  Scminoles  from  Florida 
was  strenuously  advocated. 

In  1832,  on  the  8lli  of  May,  another  conference  was  held  by 
United  States'  agents  with  about  fifteen  of  the  Indian  chiefs,  at 
Payne's  landing,  on  the  Ocklawaha  river.  A  grant  of  lands  west  of 
the  Mississippi  was  promised  by  the  United  States,  together  with 
a  pecuniary  compensation  for  the  loss  attendant  upon  the  abandon- 
ment of  their  old  settlements,  if  the  Indians  would  consent  to  remove; 
an  oiler  which  the  Seminole  chiefs  accepted  in  behalf  of  their  people, 
conditionally  upon  the  new  lands  proving  acceptable  upon  examin- 
ation, by  some  of  their  own  emissaries.  The  removal  was  to  take 
place  in  three  years'  time.  The  nation  at  large  was  averse  to  this 
treaty,  and  as  the  time  for  its  completion  drew  near,  no  disposition 
was  evinced  to  abide  by  it.  The  warriors,  denying  the  authority 
of  the  chiefs  who  had  undertaken  to  bind  them,  or  dissatisfied  with 
the  report  of  the  deputation,  commenced  a  systematic  purchase  and 
accumulation  of  arnis  and  military  stores,  with  the  determination  to 
maintain  possession  of  the  homes  of  their  forefathers. 

Open  hostilities  commenced  in  the  month  of  October,  1835,  when 
two  Indians  were  killed  in  a  fray  near  Miccosukie.  Their  death 
was  revenged  by  the  murder  of  the  mail  carrier  between  Tampa 
Hay  and  Fort  King,  whose  mangled  body  was  found,  shortly  after, 
upon  the  road  between  the  stations.  The  disposition  of  the  Indians 
was  further  manifested  by  their  putting  to  death  two  chiefs,  named 
John  Ilicks  and  Charley  Amathla,  who  had  favoured  the  treaty 
of  Payne's  landing.  Prominent  among  the  belligerent  party,  was 
the  young  quadroon,  Osceola,  commonly  called  by  the  name  of  his 
supposed  father,  an  Englishman,  named  Powel. 

The  numbers  and  warlike  character  of  the  Seminoles,  seem  to 


THE  UNITED   STATES. 


391 


have  been  greatly  underrated,  and  tlie  lamentable  result  of  tne  first 
ini[)ortant  engagement  excited  universal  astonishment.  Major  Dade, 
with  more  than  one  hundred  men,  including  a  company  of  United 
Slates'  infantry,  set  out  from  Tampa  Bay,  in  the  month  of  December, 
to  join  the  forces  of  General  Clinch,  at  Fort  King,  in  the  ii  jrior. 
Not  far  from  the  forks  of  the  Ouithlacoochee,  the  commai  v/as 
beset  by  a  large  body  of  Indians,  led  by  Micanopy,  the  ))rincipal 
Seminole  chief,  and  his  brother-in-law.  Jumper.  The  troops  defended 
themselves  with  great  resolution  and  bravery,  and  succeeded  in 
repelling  the  enemy,  and  in  erecting  a  slight  barricade  of  pine-logs; 
but  their  opponents  were  in  sufficient  force  to  be  able  to  surround 
and  pick  them  off  at  their  leisure,  firing  from  behind  the  trees  and 
from  their  lurking  places  among  the  wire-grass.  Uaviiig,  as  they 
supposed,  destroyed  the  entire  comj)any,  the  Indians  retired;  but 
shortly  afterward  a  party  of  negroes  arrived  at  the  spot  on  horse- 
back, and  finished  the  murderous  work  by  knocking  the  wounded 
men  on  the  head.  Only  three  of  the  whole  detachment  ever  reached 
a  place  of  safety:  these  had  been  left  fur  dead  upon  iho  field. 

The  war  had  now  fairly  commenced,  and  the  destruction  of  iso- 
lated and  exposed  plantations  speedily  followed.  Various  skirmishes 
took  place,  and  on  the  31st  of  the  month,  Osceola,  at  the  head  of 
about  six  hundred  Indians,  attacked  a  body  of  two  hundred  regular 
troops,  and  a  company  of  Florida  volunteers,  under  command  of 
General  Clinch,  while  on  their  march  from  Fort  Drane  towards  his 
own  head-quarters.  The  Indians  were  defeated,  but  not  without 
the  loss  of  over  fifty  men  on  the  part  of  the  whites.  Throughout 
the  remainder  of  the  winter,  the  Seminoles  continued  their  ravages; 
the  i)lantations  of  the  interior  were  mostly  destroyed,  after  being 
abandoned  by  their  occupants.  The  settlements  of  all  East  Florida 
were  in  a  condition  of  great  danger  and  distress.  The  noted  Philip, 
with  a  powerful  body  uf  warriors,  conducted  the  most  important 
operations  in  that  quarter,  and  destroyed  New  Smyrna,  upon  Mos- 
quito inlet,  together  with  the  plantations  on  Halifax  river. 

Tiie  following  spring  (1S3G)  was  memorable  for  General  Scott's 
campaign  in  Florida.  With  a  strong  force,  he  penetrated  the  north- 
ern Seminole  districts,  sweeping  the  country  in  three  columns.  It 
was  plain,  however,  that  the  Indians  had  no  idea  of  attempting  to 
cope  v/ith  such  formidable  enemies  in  open  warfare.  They  easily 
avoided  coming  to  any  general  engagement,  and  a  troublesome,  'hut 
unimportant  skirmishing  comprised  all  the  belligerent  operations  of 


392 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


I 


the  campaign.  As  the  season  advanced,  the  unhealthiness  of  the 
climate  prevented  active  operations:  volunteers  were  discharged, 
forts  were  evacuated,  and  the  savages  were  at  liberty  during  the 
whole  summer  to  continue  a  desultory  system  of  murder  and  plunder. 
In  September,  a  large  army,  under  Governor  Call,  was  again  marched 
against  the  subtle  and  fugitive  enemy,  and  they  were  again  driven 
southward  towards  the  impenetrable  asylum  offered  to  them  by  the 
unexplored  and  marshy  wilderness  of  the  Everglades.  There  were, 
at  this  time,  several  hundred  Creek  auxiliaries  in  the  United  States' 
service  in  Florida,  headed  by  their  chiefs,  Paddy  Carr  and  Jem  Boy. 
AVith  a  mixed  array  of  these  friendly  Indians  and  white  soldiery, 
Colonel  Lane  undertook  a  campaign  to  the  southward,  in  the  month 
of  October.  lie  drove  the  Seminoles  from  the  villages  where  they 
had  hitherto  dwelt  secure  and  unmolested,  and  defeated  and  dis- 
persed those  who  attempted  to  oppose  his  progress. 

In  the  following  month  two  engagements  took  place  on  the  bor- 
ders of  the  extensive  Wahoo  swamp.  The  American  army  concen- 
trated in  that  vicinity  numbered  more  than  two  thousand  men,  a 
force  suflicient  to  overwhelm  the  undisciplined  enemy  in  open  field, 
but  unable,  nevertheless,  to  effect  any  thing  of  in  :>ortance  in  a  district 
where  the  Indians  could  so  readily  betake  themseves  to  places  of 
retreat  and  concealment. 

Within  a  few  weeks  after  these  events,  the  main  body  of  the  Sem- 
inoles were  ascertained  to  have  deserted  their  old  haunts,  and  to 
have  moved  southward  towards  the  Everglades.  On  the  22d  of 
January,  (1837,)  General  Jessup,  then  commander-in-chief  of  the 
forces  in  Florida,  started  in  pursuit,  with  a  strong  force.  A  number 
of  prisoners  were  taken  at  the  encampment  of  the  Seminole  chief 
O.-^nclicc,  on  Ahapopka  lake,  at  the  source  of  the  Ocklawaha,  and  the 
trail  of  tlic  fiiLMtivos  was  followed  southward.  A  considerable  force 
of  Indinn  warriors  was  dispersed,  and  driven  to  take  refuge  in  the 
inorii.ss  upon  the  ITatchce  Lustee  creek,  and  on  the  following  day, 
being  the  28lh  of  the  month,  a  prisoner  was  sent  to  pro})0«e  to  the 
Seminole  chiefs  a  mectiiig  for  conference.  This  was  finally  brought 
about  bv  the  influence  of  Altraham,  a  quick-witted  negro,  who  offi- 
ciated as  ^ficanopy'.s  chief  counsellor.  The  18th  of  February  was 
appointed  for  a  meeting  to  be  held  at  Fort  Dade,  on  the  I'ig  Ouith- 
lacooehee.  Thus  ended  the  campaign,  and  the  invading  ari.ny  pro- 
ceeded nortliward. 

A  truce  had  been  agreed  upon  until  the  time  for  concluding  the 


THE    UNITED    STATES. 


893 


treaty,  but  information  as  to  this  arrangement  was  not  dispeminatcd 
with  sufllcient  prouiptness  to  put  an  immediate  stop  to  hostilities. 
Philip,  with  some  hundreds  of  his  warriors,  made  a  vain  attack  upon 
the  encampment  at  Lake  Monroe,  in  command  of  Colonel  Fanning, 
and  ganisoned  by  regulars,  volunteers,  and  a  party  of  Creeks.  AViien 
the  meeting  ajipointed  at  Fort  Dade  was,  after  some  delays,  brought 
about,  the  treaty  of  Payne's  Landing  was,  in  effect,  renewed,  and 
days  were  fixed  for  the  assembling  of  the  Indians  at  Tampa  Pjuv,  in 
order  to  embark  on  board  government  vessels.  It  was  soon  apparent, 
however,  l^at  they  had  no  idea  of  leaving  the  country,  'i'hc  war- 
hke  and  subtle  Osceola  exerted  his  influence  over  the  old  King 
Micanopy,  to  prevent  compliance  with  the  treaty,  and  cither  by  force 
or  persuasion  induced  him  to  withdraw,  with  his  followers,  from 
Tampa  Bay  to  tlie  interior.  The  spring  had  passed  away,  and 
notliing  was  accomplished;  the  heat  of  summer  began  to  tell  upon 
the  troops,  and  Forts  Mellon  and  Volusia  were  abandoned;  so  that 
throughout  the  south-eastern  portion  of  the  peninsula  the  Indians  had 
undisputed  possession  of  the  whole  country. 

In  the  month  of  September,  active  operations  were  renewed, 
Philip,  his  son,  the  Chief  L'chec  Billy,  and  about  one  hundred  of 
their  company,  were  captured  near  Sl  Augustine,  and  other  notable 
warriors,  weary  of  hopeless  warfare,  surrendered  themselves  in  other 
districts.  Troops  bad  been  poured  into  Florida  until  the  United 
States'  force  amounted  to  between  eight  and  nine  thousand  men, 
but  notwithstanding  this  ovenvhelming  preponderance  of  numbers 
ov^'r  those  of  the  Indians,  no  prospect  of  a  termination  of  the  war 
seemed  open,  lender  these  circumstances,  the  repeated  breaches  of 
fiiith  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  appeared  to  the  commander-in-cliief 
a  sufficient  excuse  for  treating  them  as  savages  unworthy  the  i)rotec- 
tion  afforded  by  the  rules  of  civilized  warfare.  Osceola,  Alligator, 
and  six  others  in  authority  among  the  natives  were  seized,  together 
with  many  of  their  followers,  near  Fort  Pe3-ton,  whither  they  liad 
come  for  tlie  purpose  of  a  parley. 

The  next  expedition  of  imfwrtance  was  that  of  Colonel  Zachary 
Taylor,  who  led  a  force  of  abi^ut  six  hundred  men  into  the  heart  of 
the  enemy's  country.  lie  pushetl  his  way  to  the  borders  of  the 
Everguidcs.  and  encountered  the  objects  of  his  search  on  the  eastern 
shore  of  Kissimee  lake.  Thus  attacked  in  their  own  quarters,  and 
in  a  man  tier  at  bay,  the  savages  fought  des|>erately.  They  main- 
tained their  ground  with  determined  courage,  and  although  finally 


.rt 


rr~) 


89^1: 


AMERICA   I  L  L  i:  S  T  K  A  T  E  D . 


defeated  and  driven  into  the  swamps,  tLoJv  !;-:>?  was.  smoJlcr  tlian 
that  of  their  assaiUuits.  Twenty -eight  of  C  >i.>ne1  Taylor's  party 
were  killed,  an  1  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  cievv^n  were  wounded. 

In  tlic  eourse  of  the  ensuing  winter  great  numbers  of  the  Indians, 
worn  out  by  exposure  and  famine,  and  hopeless  of  niaintainiiig  tlieir 
ground,  surrendered  at  diseretion.  These  were,  fur  the  most  part, 
sliip{)cd  westward.  Although  no  longer  acting  in  combined  and 
systematic  warfare,  those  who  remained  continued  to  scour  the  coun- 
try, and  to  murder  and  plunder  wherever  opportunity  ollered.  This 
state  of  things  continued  through  the  years  of  1838,  'U,  and  '10. 
In  December  of  the  latter  year.  Colonel  Ilarney  pent-trated  the  Ever- 
glades by  means  of  boats,  and  surprised  the  encampment  of  the 
chief  Chaikika.  The  details  of  the  various  marauding  expeditions 
of  the  Indians,  and  their  skirmishes  with  detached  bodies  of  tnjops 
would  occupy  too  much  space  for  furtlier  recital.  The  war  did  not 
end  by  any  coup  de  main.  The'  savages  were  gradujdly  so  far 
reduced  in  numbers  by  capture  or  surrender  that  they  ceased  to  be 
formidable.    Four  hundred  were  shipped  westward  in  the  year  IS  12. 

Those  who  still  remain  in  possession  of  the  interior  of  Soutlicrn 
Florida,  number,  as  is  supposed,  from  three  to  five  hundred.  ^Vilh 
tJiis  feeble  remnant  of  the  powerful  nation  which  it  cost  such 
immense  expenditure  of  life  and  treasure  to  subdue,  diflicultics 
have  recently  been  renewed,  and  there  is  too  much  reason  to  fear 
that  our  nation  will  again  be  disgraced  by  a  war  in  which  the  power 
of  the  United  States  may  be  exerted  in  vain  endeavours  to  ferret 
out  and  extirpate  a  icw  miserable  savages  from  an  unknown  and 
unexplored  wildemeea. 


T II  K    U  N  IT  E  D    S  T  A  T  K  65 . 


395 


ADiriNISTRATION   OP   TAN    TUREN;    FINANCIAL   rilESSURR:   TUB 
fiUB-TlfEASURY:    CANADIAN    liEVOLT;    THE   NOUT  H-EASTK  RN 

BOUNDARY:   TUB   AFFAIR   OF   THE   AMISTAD. IIAKRI80N 

AND   TYLER     BANKRUPT    LAW:    rU'^lEMPT  ION:    THE  VETO 
POWER:     TARIFF.  —  ADMISSION     OP    TEXAS. 


ilARTiN  Van  Buren  was  elected  president,  and  Eicliard  'S\. 
Jolinson  vice-president,  for  the  term  commencing  ^rarcli  4tii,  ISoT. 
This  year  was  memorable  for  the  most  remarkable  and  extensive 
pecuniary  pressure  ever  felt  by  the  country,  except  when  directly 
subjected  to  the  burden  of  war.  In  compliance  Avitli  a  circular 
order  issued  from  the  treasury  department  in  1835,  government 
dues  were  demanded  to  be  paid  in  gold  or  silver.  Specie  was  thus 
drawn  from  circulation  to  a  vast  extent,  and  a  general  stoppage  of 
payment  was  resorted  to  by  the  banks,  as  the  only  remedy  for  the 
unceasing  drain  upon  their  resources.  This  procedure  was  directly 
encouraged  by  the  legislatures  of  several  states. 

At  a  special  session  of  congress,  held  in  September,  the  president, 
with  the  concurrence  of  Mr.  Woodbury,  secretary  of  the  treasury', 
representing  the  existing  impossibility  of  compliance  with  the  act  of 
congress,  which  required  a  deposit  of  the  public  mone3's  in  specie- 
paying  banks,  proposed  a  new  plan  for  the  security  of  these  funds, 
known  as  the  "sub-treasury"  scheme.  This  was  the  establishment 
of  separate  places  of  deposit  in  different  parts  of  the  Union,  so  dis- 
tributed as  to  diminish  the  expense  and  risk  of  transportation  of 
specie — the  intention  of  government  still  remaining  to  insist  upon 
adherence  to  the  principles  upon  which  the  specie  circular  was  based. 

A  bill  for  thi".  purpose  was  carried  in  the  senate,  but  failed  in  tlu; 
house.  To  meet  thf;  expenses  of  government,  treasury  notes  were 
ordered  to  be  issued,  and  an  instalment  of  the  surplus  revenue, 
already  ordered  for  distribution  among  the  states,  was  retained.  It 
was  long  before  the  mercantile  community  recovered  from  the  unset- 
tied  state  of  affairs  at  this  period.  The  banks  did  not  resume  speeie 
payments  until  August  of  the  year  following,  when  an  agreement 
for  th.at  purpose  went  into  ofieration  simultaneously  throughout 
the  principal  states.     Meanwhile,  the  ruin  of  thousands  had  been 


I 


896 


AMERICA    1 1, 1 .  U  .S  T  R  A  TED. 


acconi})lislio(l,  and   gcMieial   distrust   and   uncertainty  attended  all 
commercial  transactions. 

In  December,  1837,  certain  of  the  inliabitants  of  tlic  northern 
frontier  became  involved  in  the  Canadian  revolt  which  broke  out  in 
that  year.  A  largo  number  of  those  favouring  the  insurgents  occu- 
pied and  fortified  Navy  island,  in  the  Niagara  river.  The  steamer 
Caroline,  employed  to  convey  stores,  &c.,  to  the  ishmd,  was  seized  at 
Schlosser,  on  the  American  shore,  on  the  night  of  December  29tli,  by 
n  party  from  the  Canadian  shore,  was  set  on  fire,  and  sent  over  the 
falls.  One  man  attached  to  the  steamer,  named  Durfoe,  was  killed  in 
tlic  fray,  otliers  were  wounded,  and  several  were  said  to  be  missing. 
The  interference  of  Americans  with  Canadian  affairs  received  no 
coviiitenance  from  government,  buL  the  irregular  maimer  in  which 
retaliation  was  conducted,  and  the  invasion  of  our  territory  by  the 
attack  on  the  Caroline,  were  matters  of  difficult  adjustment. 

In  the  year  1838,  -.orious  dinicullics  arose  upon  the  north-eastern 
border  of  New  England.  The  boundary  line  between  the  liritish 
[>i-ovinces  and  the  state  of  ifaiiie  was  unsettled,  and  iiogotiation  was 
then  in  progress  for  its  linal  establi.shmeut.  The  state  authorities, 
unwilling  to  await  the  protracted  action  of  the  general  government, 
resorted  to  forcible  measures  for  the  arrest  of  encroachment,  by 
individuals,  upon  that  jiortion  of  the  disputed  territory  then  under 
their  actual  jurisdiction. 

The  state  land-agent,  despatched,  with  a  small  compaiiy,  to  put 
a  stop  to  the  cutting  of  timber  by  these  trespassers,  was  taken  pris- 
f)ner  by  the  latter,  and  carried  into  New  Brunswick.  Other  officials 
were  promptly  commissioned  to  maintain  the  rights  claimed  by  the 
state,  and,  with  a  body  of  armed  men,  jtrocceded  to  the  kcxmic  of 
disturbance.  The  consecpienee  of  sueh  belligerent  movements  nat- 
urally was  to  create  great  excitement  on  the  border,  wiiieh  .soon 
c.Ktended  tiiroughout  the  United  States.  In  the  di.scnssion  of  the 
(piestion,  by  correspondence  between  the  governors  of  Maine  and 
New  Brunswick,  much  exacerbation  of  feeling  was  evident. 

The  matter  was  laid  bcA^'orc  congress,  in  the  mojith  of  February, 
in  a  message  from  the  president,  and  such  action  was  taken  lus 
resulted  in  averting  the  threatened  hostilities,  and  in  preserving  the 
existing  occijpation  of  cither  party  until  the  whole  question  in  di.s- 
putc  could  be  definitely  settled.  General  Scott  wjw  specially  com 
missioned  to  proceed  to  the  debatable  ground,  and  take  measures 
for  pi"cvcnting  any  further  collision.    Necessary  precautions  were 


'  • 


TIJK    PNITLD    STATES. 


397 


allowed  to  be  taken  by  the  authorities  of  the  state  of  ^fainc  to  guard 
a^;aiust  a  continuauee  of  depredation,  in  the  interim;  but  this  was 
directed  to  be  accomplished  by  the  civil  authority,  without  the  inter- 
vention of  an  armed  force. 

One  of  the  most  noticeable  occurrences  during  the  following  year, 
(1830,)  as  connected  with  our  foreign  relations,  was  the  seizure  of 
the  Spanish  schooner  Amistad.  She  was  cajjtured  and  brought 
into  New  London  in  the  month  of  August,  by  a  United  States' 
vessel,  under  the  following  circumstances:  "On  board  of  her  were 
two  white  men,  Spaniards,  Jose  llui/  and  Pedro  Montez,  and  lilty- 
four  African  negroes,  under  command  of  one  of  their  own  number, 
whose  name  was  Cinquez.  The  Amistad,  it  appeared  from  subse- 
quent investigations,  had  sailed  from  Havana,  in  the  island  of  Cuba, 
for  another  port  in  the  West  India  islands,  with  a  cargo  of  mer- 
chandise, and  the  Africans  on  board,  claimed  as  slaves  by  the  two 
Spaniards,  Kuiz  and  Montez.  After  having  been  four  nights  at  sea, 
the  negroes  rose  upon  the  whites,  killed  the  captain  and  crew,  took 
possession  of  the  schooner,  and,  in  eiideavourinu'  to  return  to  Africa, 
were  at  length  found  conveyed  to  the  shores  ol  Long  Island."* 

Proceedings  were  instituted  against  these  negroes  in  the  courts  of 
the  United  States,  upon  charges  of  ))iniey  and  murder;  and  also  at 
the  suit  of  tlie  Spanish  clainiant.s,  Kuiz  and  Montez.  No  bill  was 
found  against  them  by  the  grand-jury,  to  which  the  criminal  charge 
was  referred;  and  the  question  of  civil  right  was  finally  established 
in  their  favour  by  the  ^Jupreme  couit.  As  native  Al'rieaiis,  born 
free,  they  were  restored  to  liberty,  and  liiially  sent  back  to  their  own 
country.  Previous  to  their  departure,  great  elTurts  were  made  by 
individuals  to  give  them  some  insight  into  the  advantages  of  civil- 
ization, and  such  instruction  as  lime  and  opportunity  might  admit. 
The  natural  inclination  of  the  savage  for  the  free,  unfettered  life  to 
which  he  has  been  accustomed,  to  a  certain  extent  disajipointetl  the 
expectations  o I' those  who  had  interested  themselves  in  this  matter. 

The  decision  of  the  federal  courts,  and  the  consequent  enlnrgenient 
of  the  negroes,  gave  great  olVence  to  the  Spanish  government,  and  a 
claim,  on  behalf  of  the  owners  of  the  ves.sel  and  cargo,  Inia  been 
repeatedly  pressed  in  the  conduct  of  later  negotiations. 

At  the  close  of  a  four  years'  term,  \'an  Buren  was  succeeded  by 
William  Henry  lIarri.son,  whose  popularity  at  the  west  had  remained 
undiminished  from  the  })eriod  of  his  military  services  in  the  frjntiur 

*  Book  of  thu  UiiiU'd  ijlutcs. 


398 


AMEUITA    ILLUSTRATED, 


war  •with  the  British  and  Indians.  The  inauguration  took  place  on 
tlic  4tli  of  March,  1841.  One  montli  later,  April  4th,  the  death  of 
President  Harrison  pave  occasion,  for  the  first  time,  for  the  applica- 
tion of  the  con.stitutional  provision  for  such  contingency.  The  vice- 
president,  John  Tyler,  of  Virginia,  entered  upon  the  vacant  oflice. 

A  special  session  of  congre.>^.«s,  called  by  Harrison  during  liis  brief 
administration,  was  lield  at  the  close  of  May.  During  the  sunimor 
several  important  acts  were  passed,  mostly  having  reference  to  the 
disturbed  state  of  financial  afl'airs  still  existing.  A  general  bank- 
rupt law  was  tlie  firs*^  of  these;  a  Pleasure  in  which  congress  took 
upon  itself  the  respo,  .Mlity  of  an  act  retrospective  in  its  charatrtcr, 
and  in  gross  violation  of  contracts.  The  general  dissatisfaction  of 
the  people  at  its  unjust  operation,  was  evinced  by  its  repeal  at  the 
regular  session  of  1842-3.  Next  came  the  repeal  of  the  sub-treasury 
law,  which  had  been  finally  carried  through  during  the  jirevious 
term.  Provision  was  made  for  an  increase  of  revenue  by  additional 
duties  on  importations. 

To  encourage  the  oeeupation  aiul  improvement  of  public  lands, 
a  right  of  preemption,  at  the  lowest  government  prices,  was  secured 
to  actual  settlers  upon  unappropriated  lands,  limited,  in  extent,  to 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  for  each  individual  or  family,  necordin;^ 
to  jvirticular  provi.sions.  A  bill,  incorporating  a  national  bank, 
expressly  for  the  purpose  of  providing  a  fit  agency  for  the  transaction 
of  the  monetary  affairs  of  government,  passed  both  houses  of  con- 
gress; but,  to  the  astonishment  and  indignation  of  the  party  then  in 
the  ascendant,  it  received  tho  presidential  veto  on  the  Kith  of 
August.  Tho  grounds  of  objection,  submitted  by  Mr.  Tyler,  were 
th(!  absence  of  constitutional  power  in  congress  to  create  such  an 
institution.  Brought  up  a  second  time,  under  a  new  name,  and  with 
greater  restrictions  in  its  operation,  the  bill  was  again  defeated  by 
tho  }>resident,  and,  as  a  two-thirds  vote  could  not  be  obtained  in  it? 
favour,  tho  measure  fell  through. 

In  the  summer  of  1842,  the  return  of  an  exploring  expedition, 
fitted  out  from  the  United  States,  under  eoninuiud  of  Wilkes,  four 
years  previous,  excited  universal  interest.  The  discovery  and  coast 
ing,  for  more  than  n  thousanrl  miles,  of  tho  Antarctic  continent;  the 
assiduoiis  jirosccution  of  philosophical  researches,  by  the  naturalists 
connected  with  the  expedition;  and  tho  great  addition  to  thegeiu>ra'. 
fund  of  information  respecting  countries  remote  and  seldom  vi.^itid, 
were  niattcrs  of  national  pride  and  grutifieution. 


TJIE    UNITED   STATES. 


899 


In  the  month  of  August  of  this  year,  the  long-di.sputoj  question 
respecting  the  north-eastern  boundary,  was  finally  adjusted.  The 
negotiations  w^re  conducte(t,  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain,  by  Lord 
Ashburton,  specially  commissioned  for  tliis  purpose,  and,  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States,  by  Mr.  Webster,  then  secretary  of  state.  Tiiis 
treaty  also  related  to  other  matters  in  dispntf,  or  of  mutual  conve- 
nience and  necessity.  Among  these,  were  regulations  for  the  extra- 
dition of  fugitives  from  justice,  and  stipMlation«  ior  joint  operations 
in  suppressing  the  slave-trade. 

About  this  time,  a  further  revision  of  the  tariff  took  place,  by 
which  an  ad  valorem  duty  of  thirty  per  cent,  was  laid  upon  articles 
not  specially  excepted,  and  protective  imposts  were  affixed  to  others 
Bpeeifically  designated.  As  at  first  carried,  the  bill  did  not  meet  the 
views  of  the  president,  and  he  did  not  scruple  to  make  further  use 
of  his  veto  power.  After  some  alterations,  with  difficulty  sustained 
in  congrcs,s,  it  received  his  assent.  The  feeling  of  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, respecting  the  course  adopted  by  tlie  president,  was 
severely  expressed  in  the  report  of  a  committee  to  which  the  last 
veto  was  referred.  Mr.  Tyler,  on  the  other  hand,  responded  by  an 
indignant  protest  against  the  apparent  attempt  to  impugn  his  niDtives 
or  to  fetter  his  constitutional  prerogative. 

Near  the  close  of  his  official  career,  in  January,  1845,  President 
Tyler  succeeded  in  carrying  out  a  measure  of  vast  future  conse- 
quence. This  was  the  passage  of  a  joint  resolution  by  congress, 
providing  for  the  admission  of  the  revolutionized  state  of  Texas 
into  the  confederacy  of  the  United  States.  The  terms  of  admift«ion, 
cession  of  public  territory,  &e.,  were  letl  (^pen  for  future  negotia.ion. 
A  cursory  view  of  the  early  history  of  V.  '...  territory,  as  a  ^fexiean 
province,  and  the  course  of  e\onts  l'\iding  i,»  the  cs>aV)li!)hment  of  its 
independence,  will  form  a  subject  for  our  epurati^  consideration. 
Vol.  IV.— 64 


400  AMERICA   ll,Li;STKATED. 


CHAPTER  •X7II  I. 

TEXAS   AS    A   SPANISH    faOTISCE:    GKAXT    TO    SIOSKS    AUSTIN 

COLONIZATION     DlfPfCrLTJI^  Of  THE  SKTTLEUS.  —  REVOLU 

TICN'    IX    MKIICO:    Br5111£\T£:    MUST   REVOLUTIONARY 

MOVEMKXTS    IN    Y£Xl5:   «1.\T1    ANNA'S    PRKSIDKNCl: 

HIS     CSCRPATION — SECOND     TEIAN     CAMPAIGN: 

SCCCRSS  OF  THE   FlItlOTS:    INVASION    RY  SANTA 

ANNA:    BATTLE    OfSiS    JACINTO:     INDEPEND- 

CSCI    B»Tl6Ll;fHED. 

The  extensive  and  fcrtilc  province  of  Texas  receivoil  but  little 
attention  in  the  earlj  dajs  of  Mexican  conquest  by  tlie  Spaniarda. 
It  presented  no  induccmeiit  to  l3ie  gold-hunter,  and  the  invaders 
were  of  a  ditlcrent  moaW  frora  lh<ASc  in  after-times  dt\stined  to 
develop  iLs  unsurpaaaed  agricaltural  resources.  The  colonists  who 
.sueeeeded  the  original  adventurers  fr<»in  Sj>;un,  were  in  equal  do^nee 
n»'glectful  of  the  field  for  iodu#try  and  guoeessful  enterprise  opened 
for  thcin  in  the  rolling  prunes  and  rich  bottom-lands  of  Texas. 
The  few  white  inhabitant*  of  the  jToviiicc  resided,  for  the  mo.st  part, 
in  or  about  the  ^inall  .S|KUii»b  tovkim  of  Naeopdoihes  and  San  Anto- 
nio. I'rior  to  the  reTo'atioo  in  Mexico,  the  I'aee  of  this  whole 
country  was  scarcely  changed  from  its  ori^'inal  aspect,  notwithstand- 
inj^  the  remarkable  ticiVitr  with  which  it  can  be  brought  under 
cultivation. 

A  little  before  the  downfall  <rf  Spanish  j)ower  upon  the  western 
continent,  in  the  moc*h  of  Janoarr,  1621,  Mo.ses  Austin,  a  citizen 
of  Connecticut,  cooclatled  a  n^zotiation  oi>ened  with  the  colonial 
government  for  the  parf;*jae  of  commencing  a  colonization  of  the 
const  district.  A  tract  of  land  vas  assigned,  extending  one  hundred 
iiiilefl  ufxm  the  cocmt,  and  atiill  fiirther  itdand,  into  which  Austin 
contracted  to  intnt!  "'  nee  bandred  famdies  of  immij^rants,  each 
family  to  Iw  wen*-.  ^vsm'^^n  of  a  wjuare  league  of  land,  and  to 


hi'  allowed  ext*-!. 

and  the  right  to  free  w 

"The  priv 
uncj»"rtakin</  'ir../. v 
gl;iiitt'(«.       Aft'T        1 


"n-iVifs  of  exeniption  from  taxation, 

!uo<]itieH  otherwise  taxable 

rrying  out  this  imj)ortant 

^  a*!u  t.  Auatiii,  !v  Hon  of  the  original 

-' il  mwnjiH  to  iiid  H'«>  the  emburka- 


rilE    UNITED    STATKS. 


401 


tion  of  eastern  capital  in  the  new  sctileirents,  he  proceeded  to  Texas, 
aooornpanied  by  such  adventurers,  with  their  families,  as  he  could 
p?rsua/Je  to  try  their  fortunes  in  tlio  new  country.  Others  had 
engagcl  to  follow  at  a  convenient  opportunity.  The  cinigrauts 
r«iiche<J  the  Brazos  river  ir.  the  month  of  December  (1821).  From 
varioas  causes,  their  condition  was  tryin;:^  and  precarious:  two  vea- 
icl^,  freighted  wit'.i  provisions  and  supplies,  had  been  sent  out  from 
New  Orleans,  bui  one  of  these  was  lost,  and  the  cargo  of  the  other 
wa«  plun<lered  by  the  Carancahua.s,  or  Coast  Indians. 

"In  addition  'o  their  suflerings  from  d  ;.slitution  and  from  savage 
dej're'lations,  a  now  source  of  anxiety  arose  in  the  uncertainly  of  the 
Urnurc  by  whic'li  they  held  their  lands;  as  the  Spanish  yoke  had 
now  been  thrown  off  by  Mexico.  In  order  to  obtain  a  conlirmation 
of  the  former  grant,  from  the  existing  government,  Austin  jiro- 
c-e'le'fl,  in  jK'rson,  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  juid  presented  the  (  hiiiiis 
of  Ilia  colony  to  the  authorities.  Sueli  delays  were  exj)erienced  from 
thip  unsettle*!  slate  of  affairs  in  the  new  re[)nblie,  that  it  was  mire 
than  &  ycJar  from  the  time  of  his  departure  before  he  returned  to 
r«-I:evc  the  aj>preln'nsion  of  liis  associates,  by  the  intelligcnee  that 
lh«?  old  ofjntraet  Wius  ratified  by  the  Mexican  congress.''* 

While  the  titi-?  to  ?hc  coast  grant  remained  in  ahcyancp,  colonists 
from  the  Tnitt-d  Mates  hesitated  to  .«take  their  fortunes  upon  the 
ancertain  actio?!  of  the  republic,  and  many  of  them  returneil  home, 
complHcly  disheartened.  Others  occu))ied  the  unsettled  tmet  ex- 
teti'ling  from  the  bank  of  t!iO  Sabine  to  the  Drazos,  forming  the 
nacleiu  of  the  present  thrifty  and  prosperous  settlrnients  in  that 
qaartffr. 

The  return  of  Atistin  gave  a  new  impetus  to  the  operations  of  the 
e^'lony.  The  tbrmidable  Carancahua  Indians,  whoso  inroads  hi>  i 
k«i»t  the  inettlers  in  continual  alarm,  throughout  the  period  of  his 
•inenoe,  were,  by  his  energetic  action,  extTpated  or  overawed,  atid 
gave  litt'e  further  trouble  to  the  white  inhabitant.s. 

Tcxac  was  ine<»rporatcd  with  Coahnila  as  a  separat<^  state,  uu'ler 
llic  repabVuuui  ^yA-m;  but  all  political  influence  remained,  for  the 
lime,  in  the  hands  of  the  latter  province,  on  nccount  of  its  larger 
pripqlation.  The  inhabitants  of  Coaiiuila,  of  Spanish  de.seent,  I'elt 
litlltf  fral'Tnitv  towards  the  scitlers  from  the  United  States.  The 
Utter,  m-verth^'lcK.*,  in  their  isolated  position,  had  nothing  of  which 
to  f7o«i(4aiiu  in  their  treut:i.;'nt  by  the  central  government,  prior  to 

*  PiKoovprcTH.  I'loruHM'."*,  All'.,  nf  Atdcrioa 


'f  i,J) 


mt  -. 


X:.        ^»ii 


402 


AMEKICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


ihe  adminiiitration  of  Bustamente.  Tlicy  enjoyed  perfect  immu- 
nity from  any  religious  restrictions,  and  were,  at  least,  allowed  the 
privik-ge  of  self  protection,  both  as  to  person  and  property.  In 
18S0,  their  numbers  had  increased  to  nearly  thirty  thousand. 

Bostaincntc,  who  owed  his  authority  to  military  usurpation,  exliib- 
iteJ  a  total  disregard  of  the  rights  of  the  Texan  colonists,  eitlier  as 
oo^iipantJ  under  the  grant  of  the  republic,  or  as  peaceable  iinnii- 
grar.ts  engnged  in  the  improvement  of  unappropriated  public  lands, 
in  aceordaicc  with  liberal  provisions  of  former  colonization  laws. 
Ti«e-je  laws  were  repealed;  the  title  to  lands  already  appropriated 
a;ul  improved,  was  called  in  question;  and  detachments  of  armed 
troo|ji3  were  stationed  at  various  points,  to  check  any  resistance  to 
lL»?  cstablisbmei.t  of  a  new  order  of  government. 

To  maintain  more  eflicient  control  over  the  inhabitants,  the  dic- 
tator ordered  the  erection  of  forts  at  XuLOgldches,  Anahuac,  and 
Vi.lasco,  which  were  garrisoned,  and  placed  under  command  of  mili- 
tary ofiicials.  Tijcse  precautions  first  taken,  u  series  of  tyrannical  and 
arbitrary  proceedings  against  the  inhabitants  eniiuiK'need.  "Citizens 
were  r»rrested  and  contiiied,  in  several  instances,  upon  va^ue  charges 
of  <Ii -.'affection  to  the  existing  government;  the  civil  authority  in 
feverjl  of  the  nmniciualities  was  declared  to  be  superseded,  and  in 
all  totally  disregarded;  in  short,  the  inhabitants  of  Texas  found 
therfisclrca,  in  the  midst  of  peace,  suddenly  .subjected  to  martial  law, 
administered  by  officers  who  apjjcarcd  to  have  been  sent  there  for 
no  other  purpose  than  to  make  war  upon  the  rights  secured  to  thera 
by  cliC  constitution  of  the  country. 

"The  ihhabiumts,  scattered  over  a  wide  extent  of  country  in  iso- 
latM  fcttlemtnta  and  single  plantations,  and,  as  yet,  without  roads 
or  bridges  to  shorten  or  facilitate  an  intercourse  between  them,  were 
not  immediately  made  acquainted  with  the  nature  and  extent  of 
these  outrages  upon  their  rights,  They  were  not  of  a  mettle,  how- 
ever, to  surrender  them  without  an  eflbrt  for  redress.''* 

A  meeliog  wa.s  called,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the  wi.sest  and, 
in«U«d,  sa- '  *  po'  y  wius  an  immediate  resort  to  arms.  On  the  21lh 
of  June,  (I  >32,)  John  Austi'>,  at  the  head  of  sixty  volunteers,  ut- 
ta'-kpfl  tliv  ;  ;rt  at  Velasco,  garrisoned  by  one  hundred  and  lifty  men. 
Ili<  first  movement  wae  to  seize  upon  a  schooner,  lying  in  the  river, 
on  boajtl  of  which  he  embarked  his  little  eompiiny,  and,  anchoring 
n|>(fr«i:e  tlje  fort,  opened  lire  upon  it  wi'h  a  small  eannou.     'i'ue  fire 

•  Mies'  Ilifttoricitl  View  of  Texas. 


THE   UNITED    STAlhs. 


403 


from  the  fort  was  almost  entirely  ineffective,  and  llie  garrison,  making 
a  sally,  attempted  to  gain  possession  of  the  vessel  by  hcxuding. 
They  were  driven  off,  with  considerable  loss.  On  the  folluwirig 
morning  the  fort  was  evacuated;  the  troops,  delivering  up  their  arms 
to  the  assailants,  were  allowed  to  retire  unmolested. 

The  garrison  at  Anahuac,  espousing  the  cause  of  Bustamcnte's 
opponents  in  Mexico,  abandoned  the  fort  to  the  Texan  insurgents. 
At  Nacogdoehcs,  the  Mexican  stronghold  was  forcibly  seized  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  the  garrison,  attempting  to 
escape  by  a  night  march,  were  pursued,  and  their  retreat  was  cut 
off  by  a  handful  of  mounted  Texans.  Over-estimating  the  force  of 
tlieir  opponents,  the  Mexicans  agreed  upon  a  capitulation,  and  de- 
livered up  their  arms. 

Fortunately  for  tlie  inhabitants  of  Texas,  the  downfall  of  Busta- 
mcnte  put  an  end,  for  the  time,  to  this  unequal  contest  with  the 
central  government.  His  successful  competitor,  General  Santa  Anna, 
was  elevateil  to  tlie  presidency,  and  the  course  adopted  during  the 
early  portion  of  his  administration  gave  promise  of  a  better  slate  of 
affairs.  Previous  to  this  period,  a  vast  number  of  grants  had  been 
obtained  from  the  Mexican  government,  by  enterprising  individuals 
from  Europe  and  the  United  States,  upon  conditions  analogous  to 
those  impo.sed  uj)on  Austin;  but,  in  most  cases,  the  grantees  were 
unable  to  fulfil  their  part  of  the  contracts.  The  attention  of  the 
public,  however,  was  turned  to  the  richness  of  the  country  by  the 
rtpre.<cntations  of  these  speculators,  and  a  constant  immigration  was 
the  result 

The  year  1(S32  was  memorable  for  renewed  hostilities  with  the 
Indiana  of  tiic  interior,  anil  for  the  ravages  of  the  cholera  among 
the  white  .settlers.  Notwithstanding  these  reverses,  the  popu- 
lation continued  rapidly  to  increa.se,  and,  in  the  following  year, 
proposals  wi-re  set  on  foot  for  effecting  a  .separation  of  this  jiruvinee 
from  Coahuila,  and  its  erection  into  a  new  state  iu  tUv  Mexican 
confederacy. 

A  petition  to  this  effect  was  presented  by  Austin  to  the  ^^e.\i(•an 
congres.-^,  but  its  consideration  was  neglected  and  postponed.  Im[)a- 
tient  at  delay,  and,  as  is  .said,  considering  that  .some  active  demon- 
stration on  tiu!  part  of  the  Te.rans  might  "advance,  rather  than 
pnjudiee  tlnir  claim,"  he  wrote  to  his  constituents,  advising  the  call 
of  a  eorivenlion  for  the  organi/catiou  iii"  a  state  government.  I'pou 
his  way  liomeward,  ho  was  arrested  and  imprisoneil  by  the  ^^exican 


■S 


JJ 


:'J^' 


*4li#' 


40-A 


A  M  E  K  I  C  A   I  ].  L  U S  T  K  A  T  K  I). 


authorities,  who  had  obtainod  information  rospccting  this  letter, 
upon  an  accusation  of  carrying  on  a  treasonable  correspondence. 

The  ambitious  projects  of  Santa  Anna,  aiming  at  the  cstablisliment 
of  military  supremacy  over  the  republic,  were  crowned  with  success 
in  183-i.  The  provinces  of  Zacatecas  and  Texas  alone  exhibited  a 
contumacious  disposition.  The  former  was  reduced  to  submission 
by  the  most  sanguinary  violence,  and  its  unfortunate  inhabitants 
were  subjected  to  martial  law,  and  placed  under  the  domination  of 
military  officials.  A  similar  course  was  resolved  upon  in  relation 
to  Texas,  but  the  result  proved  how  far  the  Mexican  authorities  had 
miscalculated  the  temper  and  capacity  of  the  hardy  immigrants  who 
composed  its  population. 

Troops  were  sent  into  the  province,  and  an  order  was  issued  by 
the  commanding  officer.  General  Cos,  for  the  surrender  of  all  col- 
lections of  arms.  The  inhabitants,  while  they  scorned  to  comply 
with  the  requisition,  awaited  some  overt  act  of  military  usurpation 
prior  to  any  armed  combination  for  resistance.  A  meeting  of  dele- 
gates was  called,  to  hold  their  session  on  the  15th  of  October,  and 
consult  as  to  the  most  advisable  course  to  be  pursued.  The  first 
attempt  by  the  ^[exican  authorities  to  disarm  the  Texans,  was  made 
at  Gonzales,  on  the  Guadaloupe,  near  the  north-western  limit  of  the 
Ainerican  settlements.  One  hundred  and  fifty  mounted  men,  dis- 
pati'hed  to  take  possession  of  a  piece  of  artillery  at  this  remote  vil- 
l;ij.'c.  were  opposed  and  driven  oifby  the  inhabitants  and  tliose  who 
had  assembled  for  their  assistance,  on  the  oOth  of  September  (ISoo). 
Strengthened  by  reinforcements  to  a  company  of  five  hundred  men, 
tlie  Texans  at  Gonzales,  under  command  of  Austin,  prepared  to 
inarch  upon  San  Antonio  de  Bexar. 

About  this  time,  the  Mexican  fortress  at  La  Bahia,  or  Goliad, 
on  tlie  San  Antonio  river,  was  seized  by  an  independent  jiarty 
(if  Texans.  The  garrison,  completely  sur})rised  by  a  night  at- 
t:i -k,  Wire  easily  overpowered,  and  a  most  .seasonable  supply  of 
arms,  ammunition,  and  stores,  was  secured  for  the  use  of  the 
insurgents. 

Considerable  time  was  occupied  by  the  main  body  of  the  Texan 
army  in  jtreparations  for  the  reduction  of  San  Antonio,  where  Gen- 
eral Cos  was  posted  with  f^,  strong  force.  Before  the  commencement 
of  iicMve  operations  in  that  quarter,  the  Texan  delectation  as-'sembletl, 
and  or_';niized  a  temporary  government.  Ibniry  Smith  reei'ive.l  the 
••]  ]i..iiit!iunit  of  governor;  Stephen  K.  Austin  was  deputed  t>  ;r) 


1  11  h    L  .S  »  I  t.  u    ^ 


•105 


cure  aid  from  the  United  States,  and  Samuel  Houston  was  chosen 
commander-in-chief  of  the  forces. 

"General  Houston,  previous  to  his  connexion  with  the  fortunes  of 
Texas,  had  led  a  life  of  such  strange  vicissitudes,  as  must  develop 
all  the  powers  and  energies  of  man.  As  soldier,  lawyer,  and  legis- 
lator, he  had  exhibited  unusual  acumen  and  steady  self  reliance. 
Equally  at  home  in  an  Indian  wigwam  or  in  the  halls  of  cotigress, 
ho  had  spent  years  among  the  aborigines  of  the  country,  sharing 
their  rude  accommodations,  and  pursuinj.'  their  primitive  avocations. 
By  this  intimate  communion,  he  acquired  not  only  a  sympathy  with 
that  unfortunate  race,  which  has  ever  apjwared  in  all  his  dealings 
with  them,  but  an  influence  and  control  over  their  aflections  and 
conduct,  incomparably  greater  than  that  attained  by  any  other 
living  man. 

"Having  removed  to  Texas,  he  entered  heart  and  soul  into  the 
early  movements  of  the  patriots,  and  so  fully  secured  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  his  associates,  that,  at  the  most  dangerous  period  in 
the  history  of  the  country,  he  was  appointed,  as  before  mentioned, 
to  the  supreme  military  command."* 

Upon  the  departure  of  General  Austin  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  his 
commission,  the  command  of  the  army  encamped  before  San  Antonio 
devolved  upon  Colonel  Burleson.  On  the  5th  of  December,  an  attack 
was  commenced  upon  the  town.  The  contest  continued  for  four 
days,  at  the  end  of  which  time,  the  fort  of  the  Alamo  was  alone  ten- 
able by  the  besieged.  General  Cos,  therefore,  consented  to  capitu- 
late: the  Mexican  ofllcers  were  paroled,  and  their  troops  were 
disbanded  or  drawn  oil".  Thus  the  laat  Mexican  stronghold  in 
Texas  fell  into  the  hands  of  t!ie  patriots;  that  at  Lepanticlan,  on  the 
Nueces,  having  previously  surrendered  toa  volunteer  party  of  Texans. 

Great  interest  was  excited,  throughout  the  United  States,  by 
reports  of  the  position  of  affairs  in  Te.xas,  and  many  adventurers, 
mostly  young  and  active  men,  made  their  way  to  the  scene  of  action 
during  the  winter  ensuing,  and  proffered  their  services  in  the  revo- 
lutionary cause.  Months  passed  by  in  uncertainty  as  to  the  manner 
in  which  Santa  Anna  would  open  the  campaign.  He  finally  made 
his  appearance,  towards  the  close  of  February,  1836,  with  an  army 
of  eight  thousand  men.  The  riglit  division,  under  General  Urea, 
advanced  along  the  coast,  while  the  kft,  commanded  by  Santa  Anna 
in  person,  marched  through  the  interior,  in  the  direction  of  Sail 

♦  Discoverers,  &c.  I'f  .Acni-iica. 


4  !•■■. 


.  %  ■ 


40(3 


AMEKlL'A   ILLLS     HA  i  :.D. 


Antonio.     The  whole  force  of  the  Texana  in  actual  service  at,  thia 
crisis,  is  said  not  to  huvd  exceeded  live  hundred  men. 

The  lirst  intelligence  of  the  invasion  was  et»upled  witli  thu  report 
that  a  company  of  tlie  revoUitionisti",  unde.  Colonels  Grant  and 
Johnson,  wlio  had  undertaken  an  expedition  against  Matamonus,  on 
the  liio  Grande,  liad  been  cut  oil"  by  ihf  a;]vancing  army.  Santa 
Anna,  arriving  at  San  Antonio,  took  posss*:;^:- on  of  the  place,  but  the 
Texan  garrison,  occupying  tlie  strong  fort  of  the  Alamo,  refused  to 
capitulate.  In  expectation  of  relief  from  without,  they  had  deter- 
mined to  defend  the  post  to  the  last.  '•No  very  accurate  details 
have  been  givi  a  of  the  manner  in  wiiich  this  band  of  brave  men 
was  destroyed,  but  it  appears  that,  alter  a  long  and  desperate  defence, 
the  fort  was  stormed  by  an  overwhelming  force,  and  the  garrison 
perished  to  a  man,  either  slain  in  tlie  conflict,  or  put  to  death  for 
defending  an  untenable  post." 

A  detachment  was  immediately  marched  from  San  Antonio  against 
Goliad.  The  Texans  there  in  occupation,  under  Colonel  Fannin,  on 
their  retreat  towards  Victoria,  were  pursued  and  surrounded  by  a 
vastly  superior  force.  The  whole  party  surrendered  to  the  enemy 
upon  favourable  terms  of  capitulation.  A  few  days  later,  on  the 
27th  of  ^larch,  these  prisoners,  with  others  who  had  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  invaders,  to  the  number  of  more  than  four  hundred, 
were  brutally  massacred. 

\71iile  these  events  were  in  progress,  the  Texan  delegates  had 
Ojiaiii  assembled,  and  unanimously  agreed  U{X)n  a  declaration  of 
inuepcndence.  A  state  constitution  was  formed,  and,  together  with 
a  g(;noral  declaration  of  rights,  received  the  signatures  of  the  mem- 
Vers  on  the  17th  of  March,  1836. 

I:;  Jo  iiiontli  of  April,  Sunta  Anna  pushed  forward  to  Ilarrisburg, 
the  temporary  capital,  with  the  design  of  seizing  upon  the  officer? 
of  government.  "Failing  in  this,  no  burned  the  town,  and  pro 
ceedcd  down  Galveston  bay,  towards  New  Washington,  where  was 
a  drpot  of  military  stores.  On  his  return  towards  Lvnch's  ferry,  on 
the  San  Ja(  into,  with  the  intention  of  pressing  on  lo  Anahuac,  he 
encountered  the  Texan  army,  ready  to  give  battle. 

"The  patriot  army  consisted  of  le.ss  than  eight  hundred  men,  of 
all  ranks  and  occupations,  most  of  them  undisciplined,  and  ignorant 
of  military  allairs.  The  Mexicans,  as  reinforced  by  five  hundred 
troops,  under  Cos,  on  the  morning  of  April  21at,  (the  day  of  battle,) 
numbered  nearly  or  quite  sixteen  hundred,  most  of  whom  were 


irvice  at  thu 


THE    UNITED   STATES. 


407 


veteran  troops,  under  the  command  of  ofljcers  of  skill  and  cx|.eri- 
ence.  Both  armies,  after  a  preliminary  skirmish,  encamped,  on  the 
night  of  the  20th,  upon  tlie  right  l^ank  of  the  Han  Jacinto,  just  below 
the  mouth  of  Butlalo  bayou.  The  action  commenced  at  half-past 
three,  P.  ^f.,  by  a  most  im|)etuous  attack  on  the  part  of  the  Tcxaiis, 
who  rushed  on,  to  the  war  cry  of  'Remember  the  Alamo!'  The 
rout  of  the  Mexicans  was  complete,  and  the  pursuit  of  the  fugitives 
continued  until  night-fall.''* 

According  to  General  IIoa.<iton*8  official  report,  the  loss  of  the 
Texans,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  but  twenty-five.  Nearly  tlie 
entire  Mexican  force  was  de?'royed.  or  f^urrendered  to  the  victors. 
Generals  Santa  Anna  and  ('  -  were  both  taken  prisoners,  the  lirst 
on  the  day  succeeding  that    '"the  battle,  the  other  on  the  2i)t\\. 

Nothing  further  was  alt  ■•  A  by  the  division  of  the  Mexi  an 
army  under  Urea.  The  wl  .  intry  was  abandoned  to  the  pos- 
session of  the  revolution ist<«,  and  the  new  constitution  went  (piietly 
into  cflect.  General  llou.ston  was  elected  first  president  of  the 
republic.  The  constant  increase  of  immigration,  subsequent  to  the 
establishment  of  indej)endence,  rendered  any  attempt  at  a  forcible 
recovery  of  the  valuable  province  every  year  more  hopeless :  but  the 
Mexican  government  yielded  nothing  of  its  claims,  ;.nd  the  conse- 
quences of  a  recognition  of  Texan  indejjendence  by  the  United 
States  have  been  already  narrated- 

Dn.  FiSK. — In  1831  he  was  appointed  to  and  mcjcepted  tlio  piesidcncy  of  llio  'Wcalcyan 
Cnivcrsity,  in  MidiUctowTi,  Connecticut  In  ls35  and  163C  lie  made  tlio  t(jur  of  Kiiropo, 
an  account  of  which  he  afterward  published  is  a  larp?  octavo  volume.  Wliilo  in  Kuniiic, 
he  was  appointed  by  the  pcncral  confennceol  1830  it*  delepite  to  tl>o  Wiolcyan  niclli- 
odist  confiniico  in  England;  and,  at  the  same  conference,  ho  was  also  elected  bishop  of 
the  nicthodist  epii>copal  church  of  the  UniU-d  Siat««. 

Dr.  Fisk  possessed  a  clear,  vigorooa,  and  well-balanced  mind,  regular  and  handsoino 
features,  an  expressive  counton.incc,  a  statt-ly  figure,  and  a  pleiusing  address.  roiliMps, 
when  unembarraiwed,  he  came  as  near  to  the  perfection  of  a  Christian  pulpit  orator  im 
any  that  can  bo  found  among  Hie  minidters  of  the  Kinctuary. — Bangn'  UUl.,  iv.,  313 — 317. 

•  Dijicovercrs,  Ac.  of  America. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


\,\J  |50     ™"        ■ 


I.I 


12  5 


1^  1^    |2.2 
t   1^    12.0 


i.8 


1-25      1.4      1,6 

« 6"     

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STIIIT 

WIBSTil.NY    M5tO 

(716)  •73-4S03 


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408 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


uXliTirxjLiiu    lAiXA* 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  JAMES   K.   POLK. — ANNEXATION  OF  TEXAS 
—  THE  NORTH-WESTERN  BOUNDARY. DISCOVERY  AND  HIS- 
TORY OF  THE  TERRITORY  OF  OREGON. — VOYAGE  OF  JUAN 
DE    FUCA:     DISCOVERY    OF    THE    COLUMBIA:     TRADING 
ESTABLISHMENTS:   JOURNEY  OF  LEWIS  AND  CLARKE: 
ASTORIA:     DESTRUCTION    OF    THE   TONQUIN;    WAR 
WITH   GREAT   BRITAIN:    BOUNDARY   TREATIES: 
SETTLEMENT  »0F    THE    COUNTRY. 


In  the  month  of  March,  1845,  James  K.  Polk,  of  Tennessee, 
succeeded  to  the  presidency,  George  M.  Dallas  being  vice-president. 
At  the  congressional  session,  commencing  December  1st,  1845,  vari- 
ous acts  were  passed,  the  influence  of  which  upon  the  future  destinies 
of  the  country  is  incalculable.  Among  the  first  of  these,  was  the 
final  joint  resolution,  by  virtue  of  which  Texas  became  one  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  burden  of  maintaining  her  independence  was 
assumed  by  the  confederacy.  Hostilities  with  Mexico  followed,  con- 
nected with  which,  are  most  matters  of  interest  occurring  throughout 
this  administration.  An  account  of  all  the  material  events  of  the 
war  has  been  already  given,  under  the  title  of  Mexico. 

In  the  summer  of  1846,  the  vexed  question  respecting  conflicting 
claims  of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  to  juri.sdiction  in  the 
territory  of  Oregon  was  finally  set  at  rest.  The  forty-ninth  parallel 
was  fixed  as  our  northern  boundary,  extending  westward  to  the 
channel  between  Vancouver's  island  and  the  main,  thence  through 
the  straits  of  Fuca  to  the  Pacific.  Free  navigation  of  the  channel 
and  straits,  and  of  the  north  branch  of  the  Columbia  to  the  ocean, 
,vas  secured  to  subjects  or  citi/.cns  of  either  nation. 

A  brief  account  of  the  discovery,  settlement,  and  previous  history 
of  this  extensive  and  vahL-xblc  territor}',  in  the  present  connection, 
may  not  appear  un[)rofit;iblc  or  out  of  place. 

In  early  times  it  was  commonly  supposed  th.nt  a  free  communica- 
tion existed  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans,  in  latitude  no 
farther  north  than  the  northern  limits  of  the  territory  of  Oregon. 
Vague  reports,  corroborative  of  this  tlieorv,  were  given  by  ndv  -nt- 
iirous  tnaiincrs,  wlintn  chiince  or  the  desire  of  exploration  threw 


lOUt 

tlie 


rougli 


iiiuca- 
le  no 
vgon. 
1\  >nt« 
tlirew 


THE    UNITED    STATES. 


409 


upon  the  north-western  coast.  The  most  remarkable  of  these  early 
narratives  is  that  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  a  Cephalonian  pilot,  who  sailed 
under  a  commission  from  the  governor  of  Mexico,  upon  a  northern 
voyage  of  discovery,  in  1592. 

Five  years  previous,  this  celebrated  navigator,  while  on  a  voyage 
from  Manilla  to  the  Spanish  provinces  in  America,  was  captured  near 
the  coast,  by  the  bucaniers  under  Cavendish.  The  vessel  in  which 
he  sailed  was  fired,  but  not  entirely  destroyed,  and  the  crew  were 
set  on  shore  upon  the  peninsula  of  Old  California.  Regaining  pos- 
session of  their  abandoned  craft,  they  managed  to  refit  her  and  to 
continue  their  voyage,  with  the  loss  of  all  their  effects. 

The  Mexican  governor  took  Juan  de  Fuca  under  his  patronage, 
and  availed  himself  of  his  experience  in  nautical  affairs,  in  the  pros- 
ecution of  exploration  at  the  north.  The  first  voyage  was  unsuc- 
cessful, nothing  being  seen  of  the  reported  "straits  of  Anian,"  through 
which  it  was  believed  a  passage  might  be  effected  lo  the  Atlantic. 
The  second  expedition  is  chronicled  as  follows  by  Purchas,  upon  the 
authority  of  Michael  Lock  the  elder: 

"lie  followed  his  course,  in  that  voyage,  west  and  north-west  in 
the  South  &a,  all  along  the  coast  of  Nova  Spania^  and  California, 
and  the  Indies,  now  called  North  America,  (all  which  voyage  he  sig- 
nilied  to  me  in  a  great  map,  and  a  sea-card  of  my  own,  which  I  laid 
before  him,)  until  he  came  to  the  latitude  of  forty-seven  degrees; 
and  that  there,  finding  that  the  land  trended  north  and  north-east, 
witl)  a  broad  inlet  of  sea  between  forty-seven  and  forty-eight  degrees 
of  latitude,  he  entered  thereinto,  sailing  therein  more  than  twenty 
days,  and  found  that  land  trending  still  sometimes  nortli-wost,  and 
i.orth-cast,  and  north,  and  also  east  and  south-eastward,  and  very 
much  broader  sea  than  waa  at  the  said  entrance,  and  that  he  i)assed 
by  divers  islands  in  that  sailing;  and  that,  at  the  entrance  of  this 
said  .strait,  there  is,  on  the  north-west  coast  thereof,  a  great  hend-lnnd 
or  island,  with  an  exceeding  high  pinnacle,  or  spired  rock,  like  a 
pihar,  thereupon. 

"Also  he  said  that  he  went  on  land  in  divers  places,  and  that  he 
saw  some  people  on  land,  clad  in  beast's  skins;  and  that  the  land  is 
very  fruitful,  and  rich  of  gold,  silver,  pearls,  and  other  thing.^,  like 
Nova  Sjmnia. 

'•And  also  lie  said  that  he,  being  entered  thus  far  into  tlie  said 
Btrait,  and  being  come  into  the  North  Sea  already,  an<l  (iiiding  the 
Bca  wide  enou'jli  every  wlier(\  and  to  be  about  thirty  or  forty  leagues 


410 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


wide  in  the  mouth  of  the  straits  where  he  entered,  he  thought  he 
had  now  well  discharged  his  office;  and  that,  not  being  armed  to  re- 
sist the  force  of  the  savage  people  that  might  happen,  he  therefore 
set  sail,  and  returned  homewards  again  towards  Nova  Sixinia,  where 
he  arrived  at  Acapulco^  Anno  1592,  hoping  to  be  rewarded  hj  the 
viceroy  for  his  service  done  in  the  said  voyage."* 

The  true  name  of  this  navigator  is  said  to  have  been  Apostolos 
Valerianos,  but  the  inlet,  of  which,  if  not  the  discoverer,  he  was  the 
first  authentic  explorer,  has  ever  since  borne  his  more  popular  ap- 
pellation. The  straits  of  Juan  de  Fuca  were  not  again  entered  or 
noticed  for  nearly  two  centuries  from  the  time  of  the  Greek  pilot. 
In  1787,  the  account  above  given,  which  had  been  long  discredited, 
was  in  part  corroborated,  and  its  errors  were  pointed  out,  by  the  re- 
Dort  of  Captain  Berkeley,  an  Englishman,  commanding  a  vessel  in 
the  service  of  the  Austrian  East  India  Company. 

Twelve  years  before  this  period,  August  15,  1775,  Bruno  Ileceta. 
commander  of  an  exploring  expedition  fitted  out  from  San  Bias,  dis- 
covered the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river;  but  he  failed  to  notice 
the  entrance  of  the  straits.  Captain  Cook,  during  his  last  voyage, 
in  the  year  1778,  just  previous  to  h'is  second  and  fatal  visit  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  made  an  unsuccessful  examination  of  the  coast,  in 
search  after  the  reported  inlet. 

"Within  a  few  years  from  this  time  a  valuable  traffic  in  furs,  to  be 
used  in  the  China  trade,  was  opened  with  the  natives  of  the  noith- 
west  coast.  Two  vessels,  the  Felice  and  the  Iphigenia,  sailed  u])on 
this  enterprise  from  Macao  in  1788,  under  Portuguese  colours,  but 
subject  to  the  general  management  of  John  !^[eares,  a  British  lieu- 
tenant. Before  the  departure  of  these  vessels  from  the  coast,  the 
Columbia  and  Washington,  fitted  out  at  Boston,  in  the  United  States, 
upon  similar  service,  entered  Nootka  sound.  In  1792,  the  first  of 
these,  under  command  o^ Captain  Gray,  passed  up  the  river  discovered 
by  Ilecota.  It  has  ever  since  borne  the  name  of  the  vessel,  and  to 
Gray  must  be  ascribed  the  honor.  'yeing  the  first  to  ])rove  its  ex- 
istence, as  this  was  only  conjectur  j  the  first  discoverer,  from  the 
strong  current  setting  out  of  the  bay. 

Confiicting  claims  respecting  exclusive  rights  upon  the  north-west 
coast,  by  virtue  of  discovery  and  occupation,  were  long  maintained 
by  different  European  powers;  and  after  the  cession  by  Spain  to  the 
United  States  of  the  immense  territory  then  called  Louisiana,  the 

♦  Grcenhow's  History  of  Oregon  and  California. 


T  It  K    UNI  T  El)   S  T  A  T  K  S. 


411 


latter  power  became  involved  in  a  similar  controversy  with  Great 
Britain.  During  the  3'ear  subsequent  to  this  event,  180i,  a  party  of 
thirty  or  forty  men,  under  command  of  Captains  Lewis  and  Clarke, 
was  despatched  by  the  United  States'  government  upon  a  journey  of 
overland  exploration  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Pacific. 

The  adventurers  passed  the  winter  near  the  ^fandan  villages,  far 
up  the  Missouri,  and  in  the  spring  of  1805  pursued  their  voyage  up 
the  river  in  canoes  and  "periogues."  Deriving  their  principal  sup- 
port from  the  game  brought  in  by  their  hunters,  they  slowly  worked 
their  way  against  the  current,  and  passed  the  great  falls  or  rapids  of 
the  Missouri  in  the  month  of  July.  At  this  point  they  were  obliged 
tv  build  light  canoes  in  which  to  continue  their  voyage.  Entering 
the  Jefferson  fork,  about  the  close  of  the  month,  they  kept  on  their 
course  until  the  river,  no  longer  navigable,  had  dwindled  to  a  brook, 
and  on  the  12th  of  August  its  utmost  source  was  discovered. 

Passing  the  dividing  ridge,  the  advanced  party  reached  "a  hand- 
some bold  creek  of  clear  cold  water,  running  to  the  westward." 
After  enduring  the  utmost  hardships  in  the  dangerous  passage  of 
the  mountains,  the  travellers  struck  the  Kouskooskee,  and  resumed 
their  journey  by  water.  They  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia 
early  in  November.  Nothing  was  heard  from  the  expedition  until 
its  return  to  St.  Louis  on  the  23d  of  September,  1806.  The  account 
published  by  the  leaders  of  the  expedition  is  replete  with  interest, 
and  marked  by  an  agreeable  simplicity  of  style. 

Great  interest  was  excited  throughout  the  United  States  by  the 
long-cx[iected  report,  and  plans  were  soon  after  set  on  foot  for  the 
formation  of  a  permanent  establishment,  for  trading  purposes,  upon 
the  Pacific  coast.  A  company,  styled  the  Pacific  Fur  Company,  was 
formed  umler  the  auspices  of  John  Jacob  Astor,  of  New  York,  in 
1810,  and  vessels  were  at  once  fitted  out  upon  the  enterprise.  The 
seltlenient  of  Astoria  at  Point  George,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Co- 
lUtnbia,  was  commenced  during  the  summer  of  1811.  This  under- 
tiiking,  at  first  prosperous,  resulted  in  misfortune.  The  Tonquin, 
the  first  vessel  sent  out,  while  engaged  in  trade  near  the  straits  of 
Fuca.  was  plniidered  by  the  Indians,  and  blown  up.  All  on  board 
perished,  wi:h  the  exception  of  an  Indian  interpreter,  who,  after  a 
captivity  of  two  years,  made  his  way  to  Astoria,  and  gave  the  first 
intelligence  of  tiic  disiister. 

The  war  between  Great  Pn'tain  and  tho  United  States  breaking 
out  at  this  peritnl,  the  resident  p.iMn.r-  of  the  American  Company 


i 


412 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


=il 


effected  a  sale  of  the  whole  establishment  and  stores  to  the  British 
North-west  Company.  The  occupants  under  this  transfer  continuea 
to  carry  on  the'trade  in  furs  after  the  reestablishment  of  the  authority 
of  the  United  States  over  that  portion  of  the  north-west  territory. 

"By  the  treaty  of  1818,  the  territories  west  of  the  liocky  moun- 
tains, claimed  by  the  United  States  or  Great  Britain,  were  to  ^^e 
jointly  occupied  by  citizens  of  either  country,  for  a  period  of  tea 
years.  Upon  the  expiration  of  this  term  (in  1828),  the  arrangement 
was  renewed,  and  indefinitely  extended;  one  year's  notice  to  be 
given  by  either  government  prior  to  any  future  assertion  of  sole 
sovereignty. 

"As  the  attention  of  the  United  States  became  aroused  by  the 
progress  of  emigration  to  Oregon,  the  necessijty  for  some  definitive 
settlement  of  the  boundary  question  began  to  be  universally  felt. 
Subsequent  to  the  explorations  and  surveys  under  Colonel  Fremont, 
elsewhere  narrated,  great  numbers  of  settlers,  during  the  summers  of 
1843  and  1844,  pursued  the  overland  route,  and  settled  in  the  "Wil- 
lamet  valley.  Thv"^  number  of  American  emigrants  in  Oregon  at  the 
close  of  the  lattes-  year,  is  computed  at  more  than  three  thousand, 
and  great  sympathy  was  felt  for  them  throughout  the  Union,  in  con- 
sideration of  the  hardships  they  had  endured,  and  the  uncertainty 
of  their  position  while  the  right  of  jurisdiction  over  the  country  re- 
mained unsettled."* 

After  the  final  settlement  of  the  boundary  question,  in  1846,  as 
before  mentioned,  emigration  received  a  new  impetus.  Althoufih 
lying  in  a  high  latitude,  the  climate  of  the  territory  of  Oregon  is  by 
no  means  severe.  Owing  to  its  situation  upon  the  western  shore  of 
a  large  continent,  like  the  countries  of  western  Europe,  it  is  subject 
to  no  such  extremes  of  temperature  as  those  felt  in  the  New  England 
states.  The  soil  is  extremely  fertile,  and  the  surface  of  the  country 
is  beautifully  diversified  with  mountains,  plains,  hills,  and  streams. 
The  population,  as  exhibited  in  the  census  returns  of  1850,  numbered 
thirteen  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty-three. 

•  Discoverers,  &.c.,  of  Acoricx 


THE   UNITED   STATES.  4^3 


ALTERATION  IN  THE  TARIFF. ACQUISITION  OF  CALIFORNIA: 

EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THAT  PROVINCE:  THE  JESUIT  MISSIONS 
IN    THE    PENINSULA:    THE    DOMINICANS. UPPER    CALI- 
FORNIA:   THE   FRANCISCAN   MISSIONARY    ESTABLISH- 
MENT: THE  MEXICAN  REVOLUTION:  ATTEMPTS 
AT  COLONIZATION. 

A  LITTLE  before  the  close  of  tbe  session  of  congress,  in  the  summer 
of  18-46,  the  views  of  the  political  party  then  in  the  ascendency, 
respecting  duties  on  importations,  were  carried  out  by  revision  and 
alteration  of  the  tariff  of  1842.  Material  reduction  was  made  in 
the  protective  duties  established  by  the  former  bill. 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  peace  with  Mexico,  the  acquisition  of 
California  gave  a  new  direction  to  speculative  enterprise  throughout 
the  Union' — especially  at  the  extreme  west  and  upon  the  sea-board. 
The  existence  of  a  gold  deposit  in  the  bed  of  the  American  fork  of 
the  Sacramento,  was  first  discovered  in  the  spring  of  1818.  "From 
this  period  every  thing  connected  with  the  California  settlements 
took  a  new  aspect.  The  villages  which  had  sprung  up  since  the 
acquisition  of  the  country  by  the  United  States,  were  mostly  de- 
serted; the  crops  were  left  ungathered;  the  crews  of  the  vessels 
lying  in  port  deserted;  labour  could  be  procured  only  at  the  most 
exorbitant  prices ;  in  short,  nearly  the  whole  male  population  had 
hurried  to  the  mines,  and,  regardless  of  hardship,  fatigue,  exposure, 
and  sickness,  were  engaged  in  the  all-absorbing  pursuit  of  gold." 

An  unexampled  increase  of  population,  within  the  short  period 
of  two  years,  converted  a  wilderness,  uninhabited  save  by  roving  sav- 
ages and  the  occupants  of  a  few  small  towns  or  trading-posts,  into 
an  important  and  prosperous  state.  The  history  of  its  seitlemeut  it« 
more  like  a  tale  of  romance  than  a  record  of  realities. 

Throughout  the  continuance  of  Spanish  or  Mexican  dominion  over 
the  Californias,  those  provinces  were  looked  upon  as  of  little  im- 
portance, and  chiefly  interesting  as  a  field  for  missionary  enterprise. 
The  peninsula  of  Old  California  was  discovered,  in  1534,  by  Grijalva, 
sailing  upon  a  voyage  of  discovery  under  commission  from  Cortcz. 


414 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


The  gulf  which  separates  it  from  the  main  was  soon  after  explored, 
and  at  different  times  unsuccessfal  attempts  were  made  to  plant  col- 
onies at  several  locations.  The  peninsula  was  barren  and  mountain- 
ous, and  nothing  was  imagined  of  the  undeveloped  wealth  and 
resources  of  the  country  farther  north. 

In  California,  as  in  many  other  portions  of  America,  the  pioneers 
of  settlement  and  civilization  were  the  fraternity  of  Jesuits.  These 
indefatigable  propagandists  of  the  faith  commenced  operations  upon 
either  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  California,  towards  the  close  of  the  sev- 
enteenth century.  Upon  the  main,  a  settlement  was  founded  by  the 
learned  and  zealous  Father  Kiihn — before  his  departure  for  Aiuerica 
a  professor  of  mathematics  at  Ingoldstadt.  Father  Salvatierra,  also 
a  member  of  the  order,  at  the  same  time  established  the  missionary 
station  of  Loreto  at  the  bay  of  Savi  Dionisio,  upon  the  peninsula. 
He  took  with  him  six  soldiers  as  a  slight  protection  against  attack 
on  the  part  of  the  natives. 

The  Indians  had  little  reason  to  look  with  favour  upon  any  further 
encroachment  upon  their  territory.  For  a  long  period  the  coast  had 
seldom  been  visited,  except  by  those  engaged  in  the  pearl  fishery,  in 
the  pursuit  of  which  occupation  it  had  been  the  common  custom  to 
compel  the  service  of  the  natives,  great  numbers  of  whom  had  per- 
islied  in  this  dangerous  avocation.  Salvatierra  and  his  associates  in 
the  missionary  work  made  great  and  finally  successful  exertions  to 
procure  from  the  home  government  the  enactment  of  laws  for  the 
protection  of  their  adopted  people  from  this  species  of  slavery. 

At  San  Dionisio  a  chapel  was  erected  to  "Our  Lady  of  Loreto" 
and  the  good  father  made  use  of  all  means  in  his  power  to  excite  the 
interest,  arouse  the  curiosity,  and  conciliate  the  good-will  of  his  an- 
ticipated proselytes.  He  met  at  first  with  very  unfavourable  returns: 
the  Indians,  after  plundering  him  of  his  horse  and  goats,  finally  col- 
lected in  force,  and  attempted  the  destruction  of  the  establishment. 
They  were  driven  off  by  the  fire-arms  of  the  soldiers. 

The  efforts  of  Salvatieira  and  Kiihn  were  worthily  seconded  by 
Fathers  Ugarte  and  Francisco  Piccolo.  The  latter,  in  the  autumn  of 
1699,  two  years  from  the  formation  of  the  first  Jesuit  settlement, 
founded  the  mission  of  San  Xavier,  on  tho  Pacific  coast.  From  this 
station,  as  well  as  that  at  San  Dionisio,  the  missionaries  extended 
their  operations  among  the  natives  by  making  long  journeys  on 
horseback  throughout  a  great  extent  of  the  peninsula,  acquainting 
themselves  with  the  resourcer,  and  geography  of  the  country,  preach- 


THE   UNITED  STATES. 


415 


ing  to  the  Indians  in  their  own  language,  and  endeavouring  by  every 
means  to  gain  their  confidence  and  good-will. 

Ugarte  came  over  from  Mexico  in  1701.  "He  took  up  his  abode 
with  the  Indians,  without  a  single  companion,  among  the  mountains 
south-west  of  Loreto,  and,  by  the  force  of  example  and  rewards, 
stimulated  his  wild  associates  to  shake  off  their  natural  sloth,  and 
aid  him  in  erecting  dwellings  and  a  chapel  for  public  worship.  He 
was  of  a  robust  frame  and  hardy  constitution,  and  was  always  fore- 
most to  undertake  the  labour  and  drudgery  attendant  upon  the  form- 
ation of  the  settlement.  His  greatest  trouble,  at  first,  was  from  an 
unconquerable  tendency  on  the  part  of  his  auditors  to  jeer  and  laugh 
at  his  religious  exercises,  but  the  infliction  of  summary  chastisement 
upon  the  strongest  and  most  contumacious  among  them,  speedily 
quelled  their  levity. 

"This  excellent  and  energetic  ecclesiastic  did  not  confine  himself 
to  a  care  for  the  souls  of  his  flock;  he  taught  them  the  cultivation 
of  the  soil ;  he  introduced  the  domestic  animals  of  Europe;  and  even 
brought  over  a  weaver  to  teach  the  arts  of  spinning  and  manufacturing 
the  wool  obtained  from  his  sheep.  Slowly  but  steadily  the  missions 
continued  to  prosper;  the  fickle-minded  aborigines  were  subdued 
and  restrained  by  force  or  kindness  as  occasion  required;  and  the 
general  tenor  of  the  lives  of  those  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  mis- 
sions, gave  evidence  that  their  motives  were  pure,  and  that  they  had 
the  interests  of  their  proselytes  at  heart."* 

The  difficulties  encountered  by  these  pioneers  of  civilization  were 
increased  by  the  conduct  of  too  many  of  those  who  accompanied 
them  from  Mexico,  or  who  afterwards  came  over  to  engage  in  secular 
employment  at  the  stations.  "The  land  was  so  barren,"  tivs  Green- 
how,  "that  it  scarcely  yielded  the  means  of  sustainin,.  .  'h  to  the 
most  industrious  agriculturalist,  for  which  reason  the  stitlements 
were  all  located  near  the  sea,  in  order  that  the  necessary  food  might 
be  procured  by  fishing;  and  the  persons  employed  in  their  service, 
being  drawn  from  the  most  miserable  classes  in  Mexico,  were*always 
indolent  and  insubordinate,  and  generally  preferred  loitering  on  the 
shore,  in  search  of  pearls,  to  engaging  in  the  regular  labours  required 
for  the  support  of  settlers  in  a  new  region." 

The  grand  order  of  the  Jesuits  having  gradually  fallen  into  sus* 
picion  with  the  great  powers  of  Europe,  its  members  were  subjected 
to  persecution  and  banishment  in  the  territories,  successively,  of 

*  Discoverers,  &c.,  of  America. 

Vol.  IV.— 55 


416 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


Portugal,  France,  and  Spaiii.  In  the  year  1767,  they  were  expelled 
from  California,  and  the  country  becoming  a  Mexican  province,  the 
missionaries  were  superseded  by  Franciscans,  and  the  civil  authority 
of  Mexico  wiis  extended  over  the  settlements.  The  missionary  sta- 
tions on  the  peninsula  were,  at  this  time,  sixteen  in  number.  Domin- 
ican friars  took  the  place  of  the  Jesuits,  and,  pursuing  a  far  different 
{lolicy  towards  the  natives  from  that  carried  out  by  their  predeces- 
sors, soon  destroyed  the  confidence  of  the  inhabitants,  and  frustrated 
the  plans  for  their  improvement,  before  so  promising.  The  Indians 
of  Old  California  are,  at  the  present  day,  few  in  number,  and  still  in 
the  condition  of  the  savage. 

Turning  their  attention  from  the  barren  mountains  of  the  penin- 
sula to  the  extensive  and  fertile  region  of  Upper  or  New  California, 
the  Franciscans,  with  the  aid  and  countenance  of  the  Marquis  de 
Croix,  viceroy  of  Mexico,  founded  a  settlement  at  San  Diego,  in 
1769.  From  this  station,  a  part}^  was  shortly  after  sent  to  explore 
and  take  formal  possession  of  the  country  further  north.  They 
proceeded  by  land  as  far  as  the  harbour  of  San  Francisco,  upon 
which  they  bestowed  its  present  appellation,  and  returned  to  make 
report  at  San  Diego,  in  January  of  the  following  year. 

This  exploring  party  had  been  specially  commissioned  to  establish 
a  settlement  upon  the  bay  of  Monterey,  but  upon  the  journey  they 
failed  to  recognise  that  locality  from  its  description  by  early  voy- 
agers. A  few  months  subsequent  to  their  return,  the  service  was 
accomplished  by  another  expedition,  under  direction  of  Father 
Junipero  Serra.  A  portion  of  the  adventurers  proceeded  by  sea, 
the  voyage — from  San  Diego  to  Monterey — occupying  no  less  than 
forty-six  days;  another  party  made  the  journey  in  a  less  space  of 
time,  by  land,  and  were  found  by  the  voyagers,  engaged  in  building 
-and  other  preparations  for  a  settlement.  "On  the  31st  of  May," 
says  Serra,  "by  the  favour  of  God,  after  rather  a  painful  vo3'age  of 
a  month  and  a  half,  the  packet  San  Antonio,  commanded  by  Don 
-Iii.'in  Perez,  arrived  and  anchored  in  this  horrible  port  of  ^Monterey, 
which  is  unaltered  in  any  degree  from  what  it  was  when  visited  by 
tiie  expedition  of  Don  Sebastian  Viscayno,  in  the  year  1603." 

The  mi.<sions  in  Upper  California  received  special  patronage  from 
the  Spanish  crown,  and  a  large  fund  was  raised  for  their  support,  in 
M^exico,  by  voluntary  contributions  of  the  pious.  Many  valuable 
legacies  were  also  funded  for  this  purpose,  and  the  temporal  affairs 
of  the  enterprise  were,  for  a  series  of  years,  in  a  prosperous  condi- 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


417 


tion.  The  spiritual  progress  of  the  Indians  was,  however,  by  no 
means  in  conformity  with  the  great  apparent  success  of  the  missions. 
The  influence  and  authority  of  the  ecclesiastics  was  established 
throughout  the  line  of  coast — their  head-quarters  being  at  San 
Diego,  Monterey,  San  Francisco,  and  San  Gabriel — but  their  influ- 
ence appears  to  have  availed  little  towards  the  actual  improvement 
or  civilization  of  the  natives.  The  church  acquired  extensive  titles 
to  the  more  valuable  lands,  and,  instead  of  favouring  the  immigra- 
tion of  whites,  threw  obstacles  in  the  way  of  colonization  by  civil- 
ians. The  clergy,  content  with  a  nominal  or  outward  compliance 
with  the  forms  of  their  church,  preferred  to  retain  their  undivided 
supremacy  over  the  natives,  and  feared  the  consequence  of  the 
introduction  of  free  settlers. 

They  did  not  attain  this  commanding  position  without  first  en- 
during great  hardships  and  suffering,  and  exposing  themselves  to 
continual  personal  danger.  Their  ])roperty,  in  the  early  days  of 
the  missions,  was  pilfered  by  the  natives  on  every  occasion,  and,  from 
time  to  time,  they  were  forced  to  resort  to  the  "secular  arm"  in 
defending  their  lives  against  hostile  attacks.  Upon  one  occasion,  a 
large  body  of  Indians  fell  upon  the  settlement  at  San  Diego,  and, 
after  a  hard  struggle,  were  driven  off  by  the  handful  of  whites  there 
in  occupation.  They  shortly  after  sued  for  peace,  and  begged  the 
Spanish  surgeon  to  visit  and  assist  those  of  their  number  who  had 
been  wounded  in  the  conflict.  This  aid  was  cheerfully  and  readily 
afforded. 

Upon  the  general  overthrow  of  the  old  order  of  things,  at  the 
period  of  the  Mexican  revolution,  the  privileges  and  powers  of  the 
Ciilifornian  hierarchy  were  curtailed,  and  its  resources  in  Mexico 
cut  off  by  sequestration  of  the  sums  appropriated  for  the  salaries  of 
the  priesthood.  ^Measures  were  also  taken  to  effect;  an  emancipation 
of  the  natives,  but  so  completely  incompetent  did  they  appear  to 
the  management  of  property,  and  so  much  disposed  to  return  to  the 
savage  life  of  their  forefathers,  that  it  was  judged  expedient,  for  the 
time,  to  allow  matters  to  continue  much  in  their  old  position.  The 
church  in  California  was,  at  this  period,  so  amply  endowed  by 
m'  loiujlies,  and  the  acquisition  of  real  estate,  that  it  was  no  longer 
dej'endent  upon  supplies  from  abroad. 

A  movement  was  afterwards  set  on  foot  in  Mexico,  for  the  fur- 
therance of  colonization  in  California  by  the  entire  removal  of  the 
missionaries,  and  a  sequestration  of  their  lands  and  effects.     A  law 


m 


i: 


418 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


was  actually  passed  for  this  purpose,  in  the  Mexican  congress,  and 
great  numbers  of  emigrants,  allured  by  the  favourable  offers  of  govern- 
ment, wore  soon  en  route  for  the  land  of  promise.  All  their  expecta- 
tions failed  upon  the  attainment  of  Santa  Anna  to  political  supremacy. 
His  regard  for  the  interests  of  the  church,  or  his  policy  of  securing 
the  favour  of  so  powerful  a  portion  of  the  community,  induced  him 
to  take  immediate  steps  for  the  protection  of  the  property  and  priv- 
ileges of  the  Californian  priesthood,  and,  in  consequence,  to  check 
the  progress  of  immigration. 


Vj    Jjjj     (toi    JT      iL      ilj    dill        iou*    (/\)     X  • 


EXPLORATION    OF     NEW    CALIFORNIA:     COLONEL     FREMONT'S 

SURVEY   OF   THE   SOUTH    PASS:    07FRLAND    EXPEDITION    OF 

1843-4:    THE  GREAT  SALT  LAKE:  RtiTURN  ROUTE;  TERRIBLE 

PASSAGE  OFTHE  SIERRA  NEVADA:   CAPTAIN  SUTTER'S 

SETTLEMENT:  SUBSEQUENT  EXPEDITIONS  OF  FREMONT. 

— THE    GOLD    DISCOVERIES    IN    CALIFORNIA. 


The  adventurous  expedition  of  Lewis  and  Clarke  first  gave  to  the 
world  any  satisfactory  account  of  the  character  of  the  wilderness 
intervening  between  the  western  settlements  of  the  United  States  and 
the  Pacific  sea-board.  Before  the  accomplishment  of  their  remarka- 
ble journey,  all  that  was  known  of  that  territory  was  gathered  from 
the  Indians,  and  from  the  white  trader?,  or  trappers,  who  had  pene- 
trated the  country  in  different  directions,  and  at  different  times. 

A  long  interval  elapsed  between  this  first  achievement  and  the 
undertaking  of  any  systematic  survey  of  a  practicable  route  for  emi- 
grants. In  1842,  the  services  of  the  lion.  John  Charles  Fremont, 
who  was  at  that  time  commissioned  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  United 
States'  corps  of  topographical  engineers,  were  called  into  requisition 
for  this  purpose.  He  had  been  previously  engaged  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  surveys  in  the  north-western  territory,  and  his  instructions, 
at  the  time  of  which  we  are  now  speaking,  were  to  make  an  exam- 
ination of  the  country,  and  to  report  upon  an  advisable  route  from 
the  frontier  settlements  of  Missouri  to  the  Great  South  Pass — then 


TllK    UNITED   STATES. 


419 


considered  the  most  practicable,  if  not  the  only  available  passage 
through  the  Rocky  niouriUiins. 

With  a  company  of  twenty-five  men,  principally  Canadian  or 
Creole  voijajcurs,  under  the  guidance  of  Christopher  Carson — then 
familiarly  and  extensively  known  at  the  west,  and  now  of  world- 
wide celebrity,  as  "  Kit  Carson  " — Fremont  took  his  departure  from 
a  post  a  few  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas  river,  on  the 
10th  of  June.  The  party  was  provided  with  eight  carts,  drawn  by 
mules,  for  the  transportation  of  camp-equipage,  surveying  instru- 
ments, (fee,  and  four  oxen  were  taken  for  provision.  The  men  were 
all  mounted,  and  well  provided  with  arms. 

The  line  of  march  lay  north-westerly  from  the  Kansas  to  the 
Platte,  a  distance  exceeding  three  hundred  miles,  which  was  trav- 
ersed in  sixteen  days.  Following  the  course  of  the  South  Fork, 
the  party  reached  Fort  St.  Vrain,  at  the  eastern  foot  of  the  Eocky 
mountains,  on  the  10th  of  July,  one  month  from  the  day  of  depart- 
ure. They  arrived  at  the  South  Pass  near  the  middle  of  August, 
and  entered  at  once  upon  the  principal  business  of  the  exp  dition. 
By  accurate  astronomical  observations,  the  true  position  of  this 
important  passage  was  laid  down;  scientific  investigations  of  the 
geological  formation  of  the  country  were  mode;  and  a  correct  sur- 
vey of  the  whole  locality  was  carefully  prepared.  The  information 
brought  back  by  the  expedition,  and  widely  disseminated  through 
the  press,  by  act  of  congress,  was  of  inestimable  value  to  those 
embarking  upon  the  adventure  of  overland  emigration  to  the  shores 
of  the  Pacific. 

The  exj/loring  expedition,  under  Commander  Wilkes,  returned, 
as  before  mentioned,  in  the  month  of  June  (1842).  In  addition  to 
an  accurate  survey  of  the  north-western  coast,  ex{  ■  ditions  inland 
had  been  undertaken  by  those  connected  with  the  enterprise,  both 
in  Oregon  and  California;  and  it  was  considered  desirable  to  connect 
the  results  of  these  observations  with  those  established  by  the  ex- 
ploration of  the  South  Pass.  Colonel  Fremont  was  again  commis- 
sioned by  government  as  commander  of  the  expedition  proposed. 

The  Great  South  Pass  lies  immediately  in  the  direct  line  of  travel 
from  Missouri  to  the  Columbia  river;  but  it  was  hoped  that  a  route 
might  be  opened  further  south,  which  would  present  less  formid- 
able obstacles  as  a  general  thoroughfare.  The  party  collected  for 
this  service  consisted,  in  all,  of  forty  men,  numbers  of  whom  had 
shared  with  Fremont  the  fatigues  and  hardships  of  the  preceding 


1 


420 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED 


year.  Tliey  set  out  upon  tlioir  perilous  joui'iiey  on  the  29th  of 
May,  1843. 

"A  detour  through  the  mountains  brought  them  upon  the  waters 
of  the  Bear  river,  which  they  fuUowed  to  its  debouchemeut  into  the 
Great  Salt  Lake.  In  a  frail  boat  of  inflated  India-rubber  cloth,  a 
partial  survey  was  effected  of  this  remarkable  phenomenon  of  nature, 
concerning  which  the  only  knowledge  before  obtained  had  been 
from  thp  wild  reports  of  the  Indians,  and  hunters  who  had  occa- 
sionally visited  it.  Little  did  the  adventurous  explorers  dream  of 
the  change  that  a  few  years  would  bring  about  upon  those  remote 
and  desolate  t^hores.  The  party  left  their  camp  by  the  lake  on  the 
12th  of  September,  and,  proceeding  northward,  reached  the  plains 
of  the  Columbia  on  the  18th,  'in  sight  of  the  flimous  Three  Buttes, 
a  well-known  land-mark  in  the  country,  distant  about  forty-five  miles.' 

"In  the  month  of  November,  having  reached  Fort  Vancouver, 
and  fully  accomplished  the  duties  assigned  him,  Colonel  Fremont 
set  out  on  his  return  by  a  new  and  dangerous  route.  Nothing  but 
a  [)crusal  of  the  journal  of  the  expedition  can  convey  an  adequate 
idea  of  the  dangers  and  difficulties  attendant  upon  the  remainder 
of  this  enterprise,  in  which  the  complete  circuit  was  made  of  that 
immense  and  unexplored  basin  lying  between  the  Sierra  Nevada 
and  the  Wahsatch,  or  B,"'ar  river  range  of  the  Rocky  mountains;  a 
region  thus  laid  down  in  Fremont's  chart:  'The  Great  Basin:  diam- 
eter 11°  of  latitude:  elevation  above  the  sea,  between  four  and  five 
thousand  feet:  surrounded  by  lofty  mountains:  contents  almost 
unknown,  but  believed  to  be  filled  with  rivers  and  lakes  which 
have  no  communication  with  the  sea,  deserts  and  oases  which  have 
never  been  explored,  and  savage  tribes  which  no  traveller  has  seen 
or  described.'" 

This  journey  of  more  than  three  thousand  miles,  through  a  wilder- 
ness inhabited  only  by  roving  Indians,  and  in  the  face  of  the  most 
appalling  natural  obstacles,  called  forth  the  exercise  of  heroism, 
fortitude,  and  bodily  endurance,  of  which  few  men  would  be  found 
c:ipable.  The  j)assage  of  tlie  Sierra  Nevada,  which  occupied  several 
weeks  at  the  close  of  the  winter  and  in  the  early  spiing,  was  the 
most  dangerous  and  trying  achievement  of  this  unparullcied  march. 
In  the  midst  of  snow  and  ice,  pushing  tlieir  way  by  an  unkiiown 
route  tlirough  stupendous  mountains,  in  uncertainty  ns  to  the  for- 
tunes of  each  succeeding  day,  and  sufiering  the  extremes  of  desti- 
tution and  exposure,  the  hardy  adventurers  pressed  forward  with 


THE    UNITED   STATES. 


421 


invincible  courage  and  resolution.  Tiie  flesh  of  their  mules  and 
horses  was  their  only  resort  for  subsistence,  and  these  animals  were 
reduced  to  a  miserable  condition  from  the  impossibility  of  procuring 
any  other  food  than  a  little  dried  and  frost-bitten  herbage,  here  and 
there  exposed. 

When  they  had  at  last  successfully  passed  the  mountain  range,  and, 
following  the  course  of  the  Rio  de  los  Americanos,  from  its  southern 
sources  toward  the  Sacramento,  had  reached  a  more  hospitable 
region,  it  was  found  that  two  of  the  party  were  labouring  under  an 
aberration  of  mind,  from  the  effects  of  anxiety  and  hardship  "One 
of  them,  Derosier,  yho  had  stayed  behind  for  the  purpose  of  bring- 
ing up  a  favourite  horse  of  Colonel  Fremont,  on  rejoining  the  party, 
in  the  words  of  the  narrative,  'came  in,  and  sitting  down  by  the  fire, 
began  to  tell  us  where  he  had  been.  lie  imagined  he  had  been 
gone  several  days,  and  thought  we  were  still  at  the  camp  where  he 
had  left  us ;  and  we  were  pained  to  see  that  his  mind  was  deranged, 
*  *  Times  were  severe  when  stout  men  lost  their  minds 
from  extremity  of  suffering — when  horses  died — and  when  mules 
and  horses,  ready  to  die  of  starvation,  were  killed  for  food.  Yet 
there  was  no  murmuring  or  hesitation.'" 

On  the  6th  of  March,  the  advance  party  arrived  at  the  Indian 
settlements,  a  few  miles  from  the  confluence  of  the  American  fork 
with  the  Sacramento,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  learning  their 
position  from  an  Indian  cow-herd  in  the  employment  of  Captain 
Sutter.  At  the  establishment  of  this  enterprising  pioneer  of  the 
American  Californian  settlements — known  as  Sutter's  fort^ — the 
party  was  hospitably  received  and  entertained. 

"Captain  Sutter  emigrated  to  this  cou.  t'*y  from  the  western  part 
of  Missouri,  in  1838-9,  and  formed  the  firso  settlement  in  the  valley, 
on  a  large  grant  of  land  which  he  obtained  from  the  Mexican  gov- 
ernment. He  had,  at  first,  some  trouble  with  the  Indians;  but,  by 
tlie  occasional  exercise  of  well-timed  authority,  he  has  s.'ccecded  in 
converting  tliem  into  a  peaeeaM'o  and  industrious  people.  Tlie 
ditches  around  his  extenoive  whvut-fields;  the  making  of  the  sun- 
driod  bricks,  of  which  his  fort  in  constructed;  the  jiloughing,  har- 
rowing, and  other  agricultural  operations,  are  entirely  the  work  of 
these  Indians,  for  which  they  receive  a  very  moderate  compensation 
— principally  in  shirts,  blankets,  and  other  articles  of  clothing."* 

At  the  fort,  was  a  garrison  ol  forty  Indians ;  and  about  thirty  whito 

*  Fremoiifa  Narrntive. 


ft 


*- 


422 


AMEKICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


men,  of  various  trades  and  occupations,  were  in  Sutter's  employment. 
Imnjen.se  Holds  of  grain,  numerous  work-shops,  and  vessels  lying  in 
the  river,  attested  the  wealth  and  enterprise  of  the  proprietor.   • 

Fremont  and  his  company  took  their  departure  from  this  vicinity 
on  the  2rlth  of  March,  and  reached  the  village  of  Kanzas,  on  the 
Missouri,  on  the  31st  of  July,  18^4. 

Upon  his  second  overland  expedition  to  the  Pacific,  undertaken 
in  1845,  while  engaged,  in  accordance  with  his  instructions,  in  sci- 
entific exploration,  Colonel  Fremont  received  intelligence  of  the 
existence  of  war  between  Mexico  and  the  United  States.  He  imme- 
diately enlisted  a  mounted  force,  and,  commencing  active  military 
operations,  met  with  distinguished  success.  The  difficulties  in  which 
he  became  involved,  in  consequence  of  conflicting  claims  of  his 
superiors,  have  been  before  alluded  to. 

At  a  still  later  period,  his  restless  spirit  of  enterprise  induced  him 
to  undertake  a  private  adventure  for  the  discovery  of  a  southern 
and  more  direct  land-route  to  California.  For  this  purpose,  he  col- 
lected a  company  of  about  thirty  men,  and,  provided  with  more  than 
one  hundred  mules,  commenced  his  journey  westward.  The  incle- 
mency of  the  season  proved  disastrous.  Upon  the  Sierra  San  Juan, 
being  overtaken  by  snow-storms  and  severe  weather,  the  party  lost 
their  entire  stock  of  mules,  and  many  of  their  number  perished  from 
cold  and  starvation  before  their  indomitable  leader  could  procure 
them  aid  and  sustenance.  lie  proceeded  on  foot  to  Santa  Fe,  where 
he  met  with  ready  assistance.  With  renewed  outfit,  he  persever- 
ingly  accomplished  the  purpose  of  the  expedition,  and  made  his  way, 
by  the  southern  route,  to  the  Californian  settlements. 

Almost  simultaneously  with  the  cession  of  California  to  the  United 
States,  by  virtue  of  the  treaty  concluded  o,t  Guadalupe  Ilidalyo, 
occurred  the  astonishing  developments  of  unexpected  mineral  wealth 
in  the  new  territory.  "That  these  treasures  should  have  renv-ned 
so  long  concealed  from  the  occupants  of  the  territory  sec  i.-;  ui!.-,  '- 
countable,  when  we  consider  the  proverbial  keenness  of  the  L  sjaniurU 
in  the  search  for  native  gold,  and  the  experience  actjuired  L^'  cm.- 
turies  of  practical  operations  in  the  mines  of  Mexico  and  Peru.  1  i.o 
fact  only  proves  how  completely  the  country  was  neglected  by  the 
more  enterprising  and  eHicient  portion  of  the  community. 

"The  first  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  in  sufficient  quantity 
to  excite  public  attention,  was  made  in  the  sjiring  of  1848,  by  Mr. 
James  Marshall,  who  had  been  emj)loyed  by  Captain  John  A.  Sut- 


TllK    UNITED    STATES. 


423 


ter  to  erect  a  saw-mill  uf»on  the  south  branch  of  the  Rio  de  I03 
Americanos,  c*  jrican  fork,  a  tributary  of  the  Sacramento,  flow- 
ing from  the  ea.  ..ard.  The  location  of  the  mill  was  about  fifty 
miles  from  New  Trnivetia,  or  Sutter's  fort. 

"One  of  the  earliest  authentic  reports  of  the  commencement  and 
progress  of  the  miniu^  enterprise,  is  a  letter  of  Colonel  R.  B.  Mason, 
governor  of  California,  to  the  adjutant-general,  at  Washington,  dated 
August,  184:8.  In  describing  his  first  visit  to  the  diggings,  he  says: 
'As  we  ascended  the  south  branch  of  the  American  fork,  the  country 
became  more  broken  and  mountainous,  and  at  the  saw-mills,  twenty- 
five  miles  below  Sutter's,  the  hills  rise  to  about  a  thousand  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  Sacramento  plain.  Here  a  species  of  pino 
occurs,  which  led  to  the  discovery  of  the  gold. 

"'Captain  Sutter,  feeling  the  great  want  of  lumber,  contracted, 
in  September  last,  with  a  Mr.  Marshall,  to  build  a  saw-mill  at  that 
place.  It  was  erected  in  the  course  of  the  last  winter  and  spring — 
a  dam  and  race  constructed;  but  when  the  water  was  let  on  the 
wheel,  the  tail-race  was  found  too  narrow  to  allow  the  water  to  escape 
with  sufficient  rapidity.  Mr.  Marshall,  to  save  labour,  let  the  water 
directly  into  the  race  with  a  strong  current,  so  as  to  wash  it  wider 
and  deeper.  lie  effected  his  purpose,  and  a  large  bed  of  mud  and 
gravel  was  carried  to  the  foot  of  the  race.  One  day,  as  Mr.  Marshall 
was  walking  down  tlso  race  to  the  deposit  of  mud,  he  observed  some 
glittering  particles  at  its  upper  edge;  he  gathered  a  icw,  examined 
them,  and  became  satisfied  of  their  value.  Ue  then  went  to  the  fort, 
told  Captain  Sutter  of  his  discovery,  and  they  agreed  to  keep  it 
secret  until  a  certain  grist-mill  of  Sutter's  was  finished.  It,  however, 
got  out,  and  spread  like  magic. 

'"Remarkable  success  attended  the  labours  of  the  first  explorers, 
and,  in  a  few  weeks,  h'-ndreds  of  men  were  drawn  thither.  At  the 
time  of  my  first  visit,  but  little  more  than  three  months  after  its  first 
discovery,  it  was  estimated  that  upwards  of  four  thousand  people 
were  employed.'" 

In  this  exciting  pursuit  the  utmost  improvidence  was  exhibited, 
and  the  necessary  consequence  was  a  sudden  and  unprecedented  ad- 
vance in  the  prices  of  all  articles  of  common  necessity.  Upon  the 
first  intelligence  of  the  position  of  affairs  in  California,  received  in 
the  slates,  speculators  entered  eagerly  into  the  business  of  shipping 
thither  supplies  of  clothing,  {)rovision8,  &c.  Before  these  fitorcs 
could  reach  their  place  of  destination,  by  the  circuitous  route  of  Cape 


424 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


Horn,  much  real  destitution  was  felt,  and^  although  the  yield  of  the 
wasliings  was  exceedingly  rich,  the  chief  profits  of  the  mining  oper- 
ations were  appropriated  by  those  who  were  enabled  to  cater,  at  the 
most  exorbitant  and  fabulous  rates,  for  the  physical  wants  of  the 
labourers  at  the  mines. 

The  cargoes  which  first  arrived  at  San  Francisco  yielded  enormous 
returns;  but  in  some  articles  the  market  was  speedily  overstocked, 
and  heavy  losses  were  sustained  by  those  whose  adventures  failed  to 
correspond  with  the  demand.  One  cause  of  great  embarrassment  to 
ship-owners  was  the  impossibility  of  obtaining  a  crew  for  the  return 
voyage.  Previous  contracts,  forfeiture  of  wages  already  earned,  and 
extravagant  offers,  generally  failed  to  outweigh  the  strong  temptation 
held  out  to  the  able-bodied  labourers  at  the  mines. 

It  is  a  most  satisfactory  reflection  that  other  and  far  more  im- 
portant ends  than  the  collection  of  gold  will  be  accomplished  by  the 
settlement  of  California.  The  soil  is,  in  many  locations,  exceedingly 
productive;  and  when,  with  the  increasing  population,  labour  shall 
have  been  applied  to  the  development  of  the  agricultural  resources 
of  the  country,  the  new  state  will  be  entirely  self-dependent.  Not. 
only  as  a  producing  country,  but  as  a  great  commercial  diput^  Cali- 
fornia bids  fair  to  rival  the  most  wealthy  and  prosperous  of  the 
United  States.  There  can  be  but  li:tle  doubt  concerning  the  cstab- 
lishment,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  of  a  railroad  line  which  shall 
directly  unite  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  traversing  the  whole  breadth 
of  the  continent.  With  the  accomplishment  of  this  undertaking 
will  commence  a  new  era  in  commerce,  and  the  wealth  of  eastern 
Asia  will  reach  the  civilized  world  by  a  new  mode  of  transit.  Al- 
ready has  a  road  been  more  than  half  completed,  by  which  freight 
will  be  transported  across  the  Isthmus,  and  the  necessity  for  the  long 
and  hazardous  voyage  round  the  Cape,  or  the  Horn,  be  obviated:  at 
Tehuantapec  facilities  offer  for  a  route  still  more  direct;  but  wheii 
the  great  overland  line,  carried  through  in  spite  of  all  natural  obsta- 
cles, shall  once  be  fairly  established,  it  must  take  the  principal  share 
of  travel  and  transportation.  When  we  consider  the  rajmlity  with 
which  our  western  settlements  have  extended,  with  no  facilities  for 
the  conveyance  of  produce  to  a  market  other  than  the  natiral  ad- 
vantages of  navigable  slreams,  we  can  scarcely  be  guilty  of  extrava- 
gance, in  whatever  terms  we  may  speak  of  the  future  growth  and 
develoi)ment  of  the  region  to  be  traversed  by  the  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  '•lilroad. 


new  census 


THE   UNITKD   STATES. 


425 


Tlie  population  of  California,  as  given  by  tlie  census  of  1850, 
amounted,  in  round  numbers,  to  two  hundred  and  fourteen  tliousaiid; 
but  so  sliifling  was  its  character,  and  so  constant  the  influx  of  enii- 
rrration,  that  this  estimate  was  scarcely  more  than  conjectural,  and  a 
new  census  has  been  accordingly  ordered. 


Vj  iuiL  ilii  XT    £    JQi  Jib      t£dj  lAi  X   X  • 

THE  MORMONS. ADMINISTRATIONS  OP  ZACHARY  TATJ.OR  AND 

III  I.L  A  RD  FILLMORE:   ADMISSION  OF  CALIFORNIA   INTOTRC 
UNION:  DEBATE  UPON  THE  SLATER!  QUESTION:  TII  K  COil- 
PROMISE:  EXPEDITIONS  OF  NARCISSO  LOPEZ. — STATIS- 
TICS.— FRANKLIN  PIERCE  PRESIDENT:  JAPAN:  THE 
NEBRASKA  QUESTION. 


The  year  preceding  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  a  move- 
ment was  set  on  foot  for  the  establishment  of  a  settlement  upon  the 
border  of  that  region  described  by  Fremont  as  the  "Great  Basin" 
of  the  west.  The  character  of  the  expedition,  the  motives  and  ex- 
pectations of  those  engaged  in  it,  its  visible  eflects,  and  probable 
future  consequences,  stand  in  strange  and  striking  contrast  to  the 
peculiarly  mercenary  characteristics  of  Californian  emigration  and 
progress. 

Driven  by  persecution  from  their  settlement  at  Nauvoo,  the  Mor- 
mons, in  1840,  established  them.selves  temporarily  in  Iowa,  and  af- 
terwards fixrthcr  westward,  upon  the  bank  of  the  Missouri.  Their 
oi)ject  appeared  to  be  the  attainment  of  a  situation  so  isolated  as  tn 
allow  of  the  free  development  of  their  peculiar  system,  and  yet  .-^uf 
ficiontly  productive  to  supply  all  the  necessities  of  an  independL-nt 
comnuinity. 

The  present  age  has  witnessed  no  religious  or  sectarian  delusion 
of  so  gross  a  character,  and  yet  so  ably  and  cnthusiaslioally  suj)ported. 
"Its  late  origin  presents  to  the  view  all  that  is  low  and  disgusting  in 
bare-faced  trickery  and  imposture;  but  its  present  position,  attained 
and  upheld  by  fanaticism  and  sensuality,  two  of  the  most  efieetive 
agents  which  can  render  evil  powerful  and  error  contagions,  has 
assumed  a  character  in  some  sort  respectable  and  undeniably  for- 


426 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


midable.  Persecution  has  had  its  customary  effect,  in  investing  its 
victims  with  dignity,  in  arousing  all  their  powers  of  resistance,  and 
in  awakening  the  sympathies  of  all  averse  to  injustice. 

"In  other  ages,  this  dangerous  form  of  a  religious  mania  would 
have  had  its  legitimate  manifestation  in  crusades  against  property, 
and  in  the  foundation  of  a  new  state  and  church  on  the  ruins  of  some 
weaker  and  less  vigorous  structure  of  superstition;  at  present,  its 
more  honourable  and  profitable  mission  is  to  afford  a  field  of  harm- 
less action  for  uneasy  spirits,  and  to  build  up  a  new  nation  in  the 
remotest  wilderness. 

*         *         *  "It  can  hardly  be  doubted  that  the  polygamy 

allowed  by  the  new  religion  is,  with  a  certain  class  of  minds,  a  very 
powerful  incentive  for  conversion  to  its  tenets,  and  a  strong  prompter 
to  fierceness  and  resolution  in  defending  them.  But  this  of  itself  is 
entirely  unsatisfactory  in  explanation  of  that  stern  and  eager  enthu- 
siasm which,  beyond  any  of  our  times,  has  distinguished  the  present 
manifestation.  Men  who  wish  for  several  wives  will  do  much  to 
obtain  them,  and  to  keep  them,  but  hardly  what  the  Mormons  have 
done  and  are  doing.  It  is  an  article  of  faith  not  -exactly  suited  to 
the  production  of  heroes  or  of  martyrs;  and  that  the  elements  of 
such,  in  great  numbers,  may  be  found  in  the  ^lormon  ranks,  no  man 
conversant  with  their  history  will  deny.  A  spirit  of  deeper  and 
more  respectable  error — the  spirit  of  faith  and  fanaticism,  almost 
invariably  fierce,  vehement,  and  enduring,  in  proportion  to  the  folly 
and  puerility  of  its  creed — has  been  the  main-spring  of  this  extra- 
ordinary movement,  and  remains  a  problem,  as  insoluble  as  any  of 
the  same  class  which  have  preceded  it."* 

The  progress  of  the  Mormons  westward  was  delayed  and  embar- 
rassed by  a  requisition — promptly  and  honourably  complied  u  ith— 
for  five  hundred  of  their  number,  to  serve  in  the  Mexican  war. 
After  a  winter  of  great  destitution  and  suffering,  occasioned  by  this 
withdrawal  of  the  most  efficient  portion  of  their  community,  tlie 
exiles  fitted  out  an  advance  party  to  explore  the  country  and  fix 
upon  a  location  for  the  future  settlement.  By  the  route  of  the 
South  Pass,  these  pioneers  made  their  way  across  the  mountains,  and 
directed  their  course  towards  the  valley  of  the  Great  Salt  Luke.  Tlioy 
reached  their  place  of  destination  in  the  month  of  July,  1847.  A 
settlement  was  immediately  commenced,  and  the  i^iiv  of  a  capital 
was  chosen. 

*  Discoverers,  &.c.,  of  America 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


427 


Before  the  setting  in  of  winter,  several  thousands  of  the  sect  had 
emigrated  to  the  valley.  The  lateness  of  their  arrival,  and  tlie  im- 
practicability of  transporting  any  considerable  store  of  provisions 
across,  the  wilderness,  rendered  the  winter  of  1847-8  a  season  of 
destitution  little  short  of  starvation ;  but  nothing  could  abate  the 
energy  or  damp  the  enthusiasm  of  this  singular  people.  The  work 
of  building  and  agricultural  preparation  was  unintermitted,  and  an 
abundant  harvest,  during  the  summer  following,  rewarded  their 
exertions. 

From  their  capital,  on  the  lake,  the  iformons  have  steadily  pur- 
sued a  system  of  colonization  by  fitting  out  expeditions  for  explora- 
tion and  settlement.     These  are  particularly  extended  towards  the 
Pacitlc  coast.     According  to  the  Report  of  Captain  Stansbury:  "It 
is  the  ultimate  object  of  the  Mormons,  by  means  of  stations,  wherever 
the  nature  of  the  country  will  admit  of  their  settling  in  numbers 
sufficient  for  self-defence,  to  establish  a  line  of  communication  vvith 
the  Pacific,  so  as  to  afford  aid  to  their  brethren  coming  from  abroad, 
while  on  their  pilgrimage  to  the  land  of  promise.     These  stations 
will  gradually  become  connected  by  farms  and  smaller  settlements, 
wherever  practicable,  until  the  greater  part  of  the  way  will  exhibit  one 
long  hne  of  cultivated  fields,  from  the  Mormon  capital  to  San  Diego." 
The  colony,  self-incorporated  in  1849  as  the  state  of  Deseret,  now 
contains  more  than  twenty  thousand  inhabitants;  missionaries  are 
successfully  engaged  in  various  parts  of  the  world  in  procuring 
proselytes  to  the  faith;  and  the  community  is  constantly  increasing 
in  power  and  importance.     Their  president,  Brigham  Young,  con- 
firmed in  authority  as  governor  of  the  territory  by  the  United  Slates' 
government,  is  recognised  by  his  people  as  invested  with  power 
nearly  absolute,  both  spiritual  and  temporal;  and,  in  the  entire  ad- 
ministration of  civil  affairs,  the  government  is  a  perfect  hierarchy. 
How  far  these  extraordinary  regulations  may  eventuall}'  clash  with 
the  authority  of  the  federal  government  is,  as  yet,  uncertain;  but 
the  disregard  and  indignity  sustained  by  the  territorial  judges  and 
secretary  first  commissioned  by  the  executive  of  the  United  States, 
are  ominous  of  future  contumacy. 

One  noticeable  effect  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  has  been  to  bnnc 
forward  a  host  of  aspirants  to  political  eminence,  the  prestige  of 
whose  military  achievements  has  too  oflen  served  to  distract  atten- 
tion from  their  gross  incompetenc}'  for  the  management  of  public 
afliiirs.    This  remark,  happily,  does  not  apply  to  many  successful 


\ 


428 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


candidates  for  popular  favour,  whose  worth  and  abilities  might  have 
remained  unappreciated,  but  for  the  eclat  of  their  services  in  the  war. 

The  influence  of  the  national  fondness  for  military  renown,  was 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  presidential  election  of  IS-iS.  The. candi- 
dates of  the  respective  parties  were  Lewis  Cass,  of  Michigan,  and 
Zachary  Taylor,  of  Louisiana.  General  Taylor,  receiving  the  electoral 
majority,  was  inaugurated  on  the  5th  of  March  ensuing.  Millaid 
Fillmore,  of  New  York,  was  chosen  vice-president. 

At  the  congressional  session  of  1849-50,  the  application  of  Cali- 
fornia for  admission  to  the  Union,  in  connection  with  the  necessity 
for  organizing  a  territorial  government  in  Utah  and  New  Mexico, 
gave  rise  to  the  most  violent  and  protracted  debate.  A  proviso, 
previously  introduced  by  Mr.  Wilinot,  of  Pennsylvania,  relative 
to  the  exclusion  of  slavery  in  the  formation  of  new  states,  being 
insisted  upon  by  members  from  the  free  states,  the  whole  question 
was  made  a  theme  for  angry  and  extravagant  declamation.  Several 
months  passed  without  the  accomplishment  of  any  important  legis- 
lation, the  time  of  congress  being  taken  up  by  stormy  and  unprofit- 
able debate — too  often  by  disgraceful  personal  controversies. 

Early  in  May,  a  committee  of  northern  and  southern  members, 
of  which  Mr.  Clay  was  chairman,  appointed  to  digest  some  scheme 
of  mutal  concession  respecting  the  vexed  question  of  slaver}',  and 
its  application  to  the  measures  in  contemplation,  made  report.  In 
the  compromise  thus  proposed,  very  little  was  conceded  to  the  claims 
of  the  members  from  free  states.  During  its  discussion^  and  before 
final  action  upon  eitherof  its  separate  items,  a  change  of  administra- 
tion took  place.  President  Taylor  died  on  the  9th  of  July,  1850. 
and  was  succeeded  by  the  vice-prcoident,  Mr.  Fillmore.  • 

The  compromise  measures  were  separately  discussed  and  adopted, 
substantially  as  reported  by  the  committee.  Before  the  close  of  Sep- 
tember, the  territories  of  New  Mexico  and  L^tah  were  organi/iod 
without  anti-slavery  restrictions;  California  was  admitted  into  the 
Union;  the  Texan  boundary  at  the  north-west  was  established;  a 
bill  was  carried  containing  specific  provisions  for  the  ivcapturc  of 
fugitive  slaves;  and,  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  over  which  con- 
gress exercises  exclusive  jurisdiction,  the  slave-trade  was  foniuilly 
abolished. 

.  During  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1851,  great  excitement  was 
caused  throughout  the  Union,  particularly  in  the  southern  states 
by  the  events  connected  with  an  attempt  at  the  overthrow  of  Suan 


l'4 


THE   UNITED   STATES. 


429 


ifM  power  in  Cuba.  General  Narci.sso  Lopez,  one  of  the  principal 
persons  implicated  in  an  unsuccessful  revolutionary  movement  in 
the  island,  in  IS-iS,  upon  the  failure  of  that  enterprise,  escaped  to 
this  country,  and  engaged  in  the  preparation  of  plans  for  an  expe- 
dition, to  proceed  from  the  United  States,  and  cooperate  witli  the 
efforts  of  the  disaffected  party  in  Cuba. 

That  such  an  undertaking  was  on  foot  soon  became  generally 
known,  and  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  president,  strongly 
condemning  the  illegal  movement,  and  denouncing  those  engaged 
in  it  as  liable  to  severe  penalties  under  the  existing  laws  of  the 
country.  The  expedition,  however,  was  favoured  by  a  large  party 
in  the  community,  and  Lopez,  having  enlisted  and  embarked  a 
force  of  more  than  six  hundred  men,  sailed  for  the  coast  of  Yuca- 
tan. With  the  principal  portion  of  his  followers,  he  then  proceeded, 
in  the  steamer  Creole,  to  the  port  of  Cardenas,  on  the  north  shore 
of  Cuba,  where  a  landing  was  effected  on  the  19th  of  July,  1850. 

After  some  sharp  skirmishing  with  the  Spanish  troops  posted  in 
that  quarter,  the  invading  party  obtained  complete  possession  of  the 
town,  and  the  general  was  fully  expectant  that  the  revolutionary 
party  of  Creoles  would  hasten  to  join  his  standard.  It  was,  however, 
soon  evident  that  they  were  unwilling  to  share  in  what  appeared  a 
desperate  undertaking;  and,  as  large  forces  from  Ilavana  and  Ma- 
tanzas  might  be  momentarily  expected  upon  the  scene  of.  action, 
a  rjiembarkation  was  effected,  and  the  invaders  returned  to  the 
United  States. 

In  no  wise  discouraged  by  the  result  of  the  first  expedition,  Lopez 
continued  his  correspondence  with  the  revolutionists,  and,  gaining 
renewed  confidence  from  their  representations,  again  enlisted  a  small 
body  of  adventurers,  mostly  citizens  of  the  United  States,  for  the 
purpose  of  a  second  invasion. 

On  the  night  of  August  11th,  1851,  with  about  four  hundred  fol- 
lowers, he  landed  at  Playitas,  some  sixty  miles  westward  from 
Havana.  Leaving  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  under  Colonel 
Crittenden,  in  charge  of  the  baggage,  Lopez  marched  his  forces  to 
Las  Pozas,  a  distance  of  ten  miles.  At  this  place,  they  were  attacked 
on  the  da/  following  by  a  body  of  eight  hundred  Spanish  trooj)s. 
The  assailants  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  and,  on  the  succeeding 
day,  about  forty  of  Crittenden's  party  effected  a  junction  with  the 
main  body.     Most  of  the  others  were  taken  prisoners,  and  shot. 

Victorious  against  enormous  odds  in  a  second  battle,  but  failing 


430 


AMEIJICA   ILLUSTKATED. 


to  receive  accessions  to  their  force  from  among  the  Creoles,  Lopez 
and  his  followers  were  soon  broken  down  by  fatigue,  exposure,  and 
famine.  The  general  voluntarily  surrendered  himself  to  the  enemy. 
He  could  scarce  hope  for  mercy  from  a  government,  for  the  over- 
throw of  which  he  had  so  long  devoted  his  whole  energies.  lie  was 
executed  on  the  1st  of  September,  by  the  infamous  garotte — meeting 
his  fote  with  calmness  and  dignity,  and  exclaiming,  with  his  latest 
breath,  "I  die  for  my  beloved  Cuba!" 

No  further  imminent  danger  being  apprehended,  and  a  sufficient 
example  having  been  already  made  by  the  summary  vengeance 
taken  upon  the  leader  and  the  men  of  Crittenden's  detachment,  the 
other  prisoners  were  leniently  dealt  with.  They  received  a  pardon 
from  the  Spanish  government,  after  a  short  imprisonment. 

The  Captain-General  of  Cuba,  at  this  period,  was  Don  Jos6  de  la 
Concha;  a  man  who,  although  of  a  stern  and  unyielding  disposition, 
enjoys  a  far  higher  reputation  for  integrity  than  most  of  those  who 
have  held  a  similar  position  in  the  island.  Ilis  recent  restoration  to 
office,  in  place  of  Pezuela,  has  caused  much  apparent  enthusiasm 
among  the  inhabitants. 

The  few  years  that  have  elapsed  since  the  close  of  the  Mexican 
war,  have  witnessed  a  vast  change  in  the  aspect  and  resources  of 
the  United  States  and  their  territory.  A  frequent  and  regular  com- 
munication with  the  Old  World  has  been  established  by  lines  of 
ocean  steamers,  and  the  tide  of  immigration  pours  in  unceasingly. 
The  population  of  the  eastern  states,  notwithstanding  the  constant 
and  enormous  drain  occasioned  by  the  opening  of  a  new  field  for 
enterprise  and  exertion  at  the  far  west,  is  steadily  on  the  increase. 
The  influx  of  gold  from  California  and  Australia  has  added  greatly 
to  the  nominal  value  of  every  species  of  property,  and  has  given 
facilities,  unfortunately  too  extensive,  for  speculations  and  extra- 
vag:mt  undertakings. 

The  number  of  states,  by  the  admission  of  California,  was  increased 
to  thirty-one.  Arkansas  became  a  state  in  1835;  Michigan,  the 
twenty-sixth,  in  1837;  Florida,  Iowa,  and  AVisconsin,  in  1845,  '0, 
and  '7,  consecutively.  The  total  population  of  the  United  States 
and  territories,  judging  from  the  mean  ratio  of  increase  for  the  [)ast 
sixty  3'ears,  must,  at  the  present  time,  (1854,)  considerably  excoto 
twenty-five  millions.  The  entire  slave  population,  at  the  census  ol 
1850,  amounted  to  3,178,055.  The  value  of  domestic  products  ex- 
ported during  the  year  ending  June  30th,  1853,  was  $213,417,697. 


THE   UNITED   STATES. 


431 


that  of  foreign  commociities  exported  during  the  same  period,  was 
$17,558,460,  making  a  total  of  $230,976,157.  The  importations  of 
this  year,  were  valued  at  $276,978,647. 

For  the  last  ten  years,  more  than  1,400  vessels,  upon  an  average, 
have  been  yearly  constructed  in  the  states  and  territories.  The  total 
tonnage  exhibited  by  the  returns  in  1853,  in  tons,  and  ninety-fifths, 
was  4,407,010  43. 

Franklin  Pierce,  president  of  the  United  States,  was  inaugurated 
on  the  4th  of  March,  1853.  Since  his  accession,  the  country  has 
remained  at  peace  with  other  nations,  and  in  a  condition  of  general 
prosperity.  The  most  noticeable  event  connected  with  our  foreign 
relations,  at  this  time,  is  the  successful  negotiation  of  a  treaty  with 
Japan,  by  wLich  the  ancient  restrictive  policy  of  that  populous  and 
wealthy  empire  has  been  materially  relaxed. 

The  action  of  co^igress,  at  the  session  of  1853-4,  in  organizing  the 
territories  of  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  upon  principles  directly  in 
contravention  of  the  provisions  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  has 
produced  a  degree  of  excitement,  and  an  alienation  between  the  slave- 
holding  and  free  states,  the  result  of  which  yet  remains  to  be  seen. 
It  has  been  said  that,  at  the  period  of  the  election  of  the  younger 
Adams  to  the  presidency,  "party  differences  in  America  had,  in 
fact,  ceased  to  be  founded  on  principle;  and,  as  such  differences 
must  always  exist,  they  came  to  base  themselves  upon  personal 
attachments  and  antipathies,  as  well  as  upon  territorial  divisions." 

A  change  somewhat  similar  may  be  observed  at  the  present  time. 
So  great  has  been  the  assimilation  of  sentiment  upon  points  formerly 
n  direct  controversy  between  the  two  great  parties  into  which  the 
country  was  divided,  and  so  many  causes  of  division  have  occurred 
upon  other  questions,  that  former  lines  of  political  separation  are 
scarcely  recognisable.  The  old  party  issues  are  dead;  and  a  more 
dangerous  source  of  contention  has  arisen. 

We  can  perceive  scarfe  a  semblance  of  that  personal  animosity, 
a  few  years  since  so  disgracefully  prominent,  which  animated  indi- 
viduals of  the  opposing  parties,  and  entered  into  every  transaction, 
public  or  private,  however  disconnected  with  the  fancied  grounds 
of  dispute.  In  its  place  has  arisen  a  spirit  of  sectional  opposition, 
if  less  obtrusive  and  disgusting,  yet  far  more  stern  and  formidable. 
More  formidable,  because  no  longer  based  upon  a  mere  antagonistic 
party  feeling,  but  aroused  by  the  direct  appeal  of  interest;  and  be- 
cause it  is  difficult  to  foresee  by  what  stroke  of  policj',  or  what  course 
Vol,  IV.— 56 


\: 


( 


432 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


of  events  tlie  mooted  point  can  be  finally  sc^  at  rest,  and  the  demon 
of  discord  exorcised. 

Our  chief,  if  not  our  only  hope,  must  lie  in  the  reflection,  that  a 
still  stronger  and  more  universal  tie  of  interest  will  preclude  such 
hasty  or  unreasonable  action,  by  either  party  for  the  time  in  the 
ascendant,  as  could  lead  to  open  rupture  between  different  sections 
of  the  Union.  Such  a  reflection  may  be  less  flattering  to  the  na- 
tional pride,  but  is  far  more  reasonable,  as  a  ground  for  favourable 
anticipation,  than  any  recurrence  to  feelings  of  patriotism,  or  even 
of  political  honour. 

While  none  could  more  earnestly  deprecate  the  madness  of  seces- 
sion, or  of  a  voluntary  partition  of  the  confederacy,  we  can  but  say 
of  the  American  Union,  as  Lord  Crewe  says  of  the  name  of  De 
Vere,  in  his  celebrated  opinion  concerning  the  earldom  of  Oxford: 
"Time  hath  its  revolutions;  there  must  be  a  period  and  an  end  to 
all  temporal  things— ^^nw  rerum;  an  end  of  names  and  dignities, 
and  whatsoever  is  terrene,  and  why  not  of  De  Vere?  *  * 
And  yet  let  the  name  and  dignity  of  De  Vere  stand  so  long  as  it 
pleaseth  God." 


II 


JAMES    BUCHANAN. 


433 


ADMINISTRATION  OF   JAMES  BUCHANAN.  —  REPUBLICAN  PAR- 
TY.—  KNOW  NOTHINGS. — GROWTH  OFSLAVERYQUESTION. — 
DUED  SCOTT  DECISION. — KANSAS  TROUBLES. — UTAH  WAR. 
—  WILLIAM     WALKER'S    INVASIONS     OP     CALIFORNIA 
AND  NICARAGUA.  —  WALKER  SHOT.  —  FINANCIAL  PAN- 
IC   OF    18-)7, — CALIFORNIA    OVERLAND    MAIL. — RE- 
VIVAL OF  1858. — TREATY  WITH  PARAGUAY. —  CUBA. 
—  SAN  JUAN.  —  PRINCE  OF  WALES  IN  AMERICA. — 
JAPANESE   EMBASSY. —  JOHN   BBOWN. —  NOM- 
INATING   CONVENTIONS.  1860.  —  ELECTION 
OF     LINCOLN.  —  SECESSION —CONFEDE- 
RATE STATES  OF  AMERICA — GROWTH 
OF    THE  UNION. 


James  Buchanan,  a  Pennsylvanian,  and  a  resident  of  Lancaster 
in  that  state,  was  elected  to  the  presidency  in  November,  1856, 
by  174  electoral  votes  to  114  for  John  C.  Fremont  of  California,  and 
8  for  Millard  Fillmore  of  New  York,  and  inaugurated  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1857.  His  popular  vote  wasl,803,029,  to  1,342,104  for  Fre- 
mont, and  874,625  for  Fillmore.  Upon  a  comparison  of  this  vote  with 
that  of  the  election  of  1852,  the  growth  of  that  political  element 
which  has  caused  the  chief  discussions  and  difficulties  of  Buchanan's 
administration  is  instantly  evident.  The  "Free  Soil"  vote  (so  called) 
for  Hale,  in  1852,  was  but  156,149;  but  so  rapidly  had  that  party 
gathered  strength  as  to  increase  its  vote  six-fold  in  four  years,  sub- 
stantially gaining  possession  of  the  whole  north.  It  is  even  not  im- 
probable that  had  it  not  been  for  the  presence  of  a  third  candidate, 
the  "  Republican"  standard  bearer  would  have  been  elected. 

The  chief  facts  respecting  this  third  candidate  deserve  a  brief 
mention.  The  "  American"  party,  which  supported  him,  was  a  I'e- 
newed  expression  of  opinions  which  had  caused  the  "  Native  Ameri- 
can" demonstrations,  first  known  at  Philadelphia  about  1839,  and 
which  appeared  again  at  New  York  in  1844.  During  the  year  1854, 
these  opinions  began  again  to  be  earnestly  advocated ;  their  central 


434 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


principles  being,  that  no  foreigner  or  Catholic  should  hold  office  in 
the  United  States,  and  that  the  term  of  naturalization  should  be  made 
21  years.  The  new  party  proceeded  by  a  method  of  secret  organi- 
zation, and  '•  lodges"  were  formed  rapidly  all  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  "  Know  Nothing"  was  quickly  given  to  them,  from  a  very 
general  hnhit  of  denying  any  knowledge  of  their  plans  or  purposes. 
In  S54  and  1855,  they  carried  many  of  the  state  elections,  and  in 
1856  had  grown  to  an  extent  that  almost  justified  their  hopes  of  suc- 
ceeding in  getting  possession  of  the  federrl  government.  But  after 
their  failure  in  doing  so,  their  party  soon  lost  its  separate  existence, 
and  in  a  year  or  two  quite  disappeared. 

The  same  question  which  had  been  so  influential  in  dividing  par- 
ties for  the  presidential  contest  of  1856,  has  been  the  most  prominent 
one  in  the  politics  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  troubled  and  unfortunate  adminis- 
tration. This  is  the  question,  of  slavery ;  which  having  been  cau- 
tiously and  tolerantly  treated  during  the  whole  previous  career  of  the 
nation,  at  last  became  properly  a  political  question,  and  the  real  divid- 
ing line  between  two  parties.  This  line  by  a  natural  and  unfortunate 
necessity,  coincides  nearly  with  the  geographical  dividing  line  be- 
tween the  free  and  slave  states ;  a  fact  which  has  given  an  exaggera- 
ted tinge  of  bitterness  to  the  political  action  arising  in  connection 
with  it,  which  bitterness  however  does  not  exist  in  the  hearts  of  the 
mass  of  citizens  toward  each  other,  and  must  assuredly  be  only 
temporary. 

March  6,  1857,  the  "Dred  Scott  decision"  was  delivered  by  Chief 
Justice  Taney.  This  decision  was  in  fact  merely  of  a  suit  brought 
for  his  freedom  by  Scott,  a  negro,  in  the  form  of  an  action  for  assault 
and  battery,  in  Missouri.  Here  he  gained  the  cause,  which  he  how- 
ever lost  on  ap[)eal,  Judge  Taney  deciding  that  the  [)laintiir  Scott, 
was  not  a  citizen  of  Missouri,  and  could  not  sue  in  a  United  State."? 
court.  What  has,  however,  made  this  decision  so  famous,  was  the 
claim  that  its  force  was  general,  and  that  it  established  the  principle 
that  no  person  of  African  blood  could  be  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States. 

The  whole  course  of  transactions  in  and  concerning  the  then  ter- 
ritory of  Kansas,  also  continued  to  attract  very  great  and  |)uinrul  at- 
tention. These  transactions  constituted  in  substance  a  series  of 
struirgle-s  between  two  parties,  one  resolved  that  Kansas  should  be 
definitely  made  a  slave  territory,  and  in  conse(|uence  a  slave  state; 
and  the  other,  that  it  should  be  free.     These  contests  were  conducted 


JAMES    BUCHANAN. 


435 


with  far  too  little  observance  of  law  or  decency  on  both  sides  ;  one 
governor  after  another  was  appointed  from  Washington  ;  but  Reeder, 
Shannon,  Woodson,  Geary,  Stanton,  Walker,  Denver,  and  Medary, 
governors  or  acting  governors  during  the  short  period  from  1854  to 
1859,  had  all  failed  to  exert  any  power  over  the  boisterous  elements 
which  were  concerned  in  the  contest.  While  great  and  successful 
efforts  were  made  at  the  east  to  aid  free-state  emigrants  in  settlinix 
the  territory,  others  were  made  in  Missouri  and  the  south,  not  so 
much  to  introduce  southern  emigrants,  as  to  keep  out  or  drive  out 
others.  Bands  of  disorderly  persons  on  both  sides  maintained  a  con- 
dition of  actual  war,  for  years  ;  and  the  question  was  at  last  only 
decided  by  natural  causes.  It  gradually  became  evident  that  the  tide 
of  immigration  from  the  free  states  was  too  strong  to  be  resisted ; 
and  the  efforts  of  the  party  in  favor  of  making  Kansas  a  slave  ter- 
ritoty  and  state  were  accordingly  discontinued.  From  the  year  1858, 
the  territory  was  chiefly  quiet ;  and  its  recent  admission  as  a  state, 
which  took  place  in  the  last  days  of  the  session  of  ISGO-Gl,  has 
closed  the  unhappy  chapter   of  its  invasions  and  tumults. 

Another  singular  and  unpleasant  chapter  in  this  administration  was 
the  "  Utah  war."  This  arose  in  consequence  of  troubles  between 
some  of  the  judicial  appointees  of  the  General  government  and  the 
Mormons  of  Utah,  a  sect  who  have  always  been  involved  in  broils 
with  their  neighbors.  It  has  never  been  satisfactorily  ascertained 
wliether  the  Mormons  did  in  fact  commit  the  illegal  acts  ascribed  to 
them  fiom  1850  to  1850;  but  the  government  believed  the  charges 
made,  or  some  of  them,  and  in  1857  sent  out  a  military  force  to  sup- 
port Mr.  Cumining,  appointed  governor  of  Utah  in  place  of  Brigham 
Young.  After  u  long  delay  in  Kansas,  the  army  set  out  for  Utah, 
but  so  late  that  it  went  into  winter-quarters  a  hundred  miles  from 
Salt  Lake  city.  Some  trifling  hostilities  took  place,  but  Col.  Kane 
of  Philadelphia,  proceeding  to  Utah  with  some  unknown  hut  sufli- 
cient  credentials,  succeeded  in  inducing  the  Mormon  leader  to 
permit  the  troops  and  Gov.  Gumming  to  enter.  The  new  governor 
assumed  his  office  without  difliculty,  the  troops  after  remaining  for  a 
time  were  withdrawn,  and  the  whole  difficulty  concluded  ;  though 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Mormon  community,  from  the  ignor- 
ance of  its  members  and  the  viciousness  of  some  of  its  principles, 
must  ever  be  an  unhealthy  constituent  of  the  nation. 

Not  less  singular,  and  not  less  unpleasant,  is  the  history  of  the  ma- 
rauding proceedings  usually  called  "  lillibustering,"  during  1857-00. 


436 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


The  master  spirit  of  this  series  of  expeditions  was  William  Walker, 
who  was  born  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  1824,  who  had  studied  medi- 
cine at  Philadelphia  and  Paris,  and  was  afterwards  a  lawyer  in  New 
Orleans  and  California.  While  here  he  began  his  career  as  a  "  fillibus- 
ter,"  by  raising  a  party  of  forty-five  men,  and  attempting  to  estab- 
lish a  republic  in  Lower  California,  in  the  autumn  of  1853.  He 
was  however  driven  out  by  the  Mexicans  in  the  ensuing  February. 
In  May,  ISf'O,  he  was  invited  by  one  of  the  political  parties  of 
Nicaragua,  to  come  thither  and  unite  in  securing  control  of  its  gov- 
ernment, lie  did  so,  landing  at  Realejo  in  June,  1855,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  temporary  authority,  and  even  caused  himself 
to  be  elected  president  of  Nicaragua.  lie  was  however  obstinately 
opposed  by  nearly  all  the  natives  of  Nicaragua,  and  by  the  other 
states  of  the  Isthmus ;  and  after  a  long  series  of  terrible  hardships, 
battles  and  marches,  during  which  he  lost  great  numbers  of  men, 
killed,  taken  prisoners,  and  still  more  by  sickness,  he  was  forced  to 
surrender,  and  was  brought  to  New  Orleans  in  May,  1857,  by  the 
American  sloop-of-war  St.  Mary's.  He  instantly  organized  another 
expedition,  landed  again  in  Nicaragua,  in  November,  and  on  Decem- 
ber 8th,  was  a  second  time  taken  and  brought  to  New  York  by  Capt. 
Paulding  of  the  United  States  steamer  Wabash.  A  third  expedition 
failed  by  shipwreck,  and  the  British  war-steamer  Basilisk  brought  the 
party  to  Mobile.  A  fourth,  leaving  New  Orleans  in  October,  1859,  was 
stopped  at  the  Balize  by  the  United  States  Marshal.  A  fifth,  under 
Walker.atlast  landed  in  Honduras  againin  August.  1800,  but  was  speed- 
ily overpowered,  taken  prisoners,  and  Walker  was  summarily  shot, 
the  rest  being  imprisoned  at  hard  labor  or  sent  home.  This  miser- 
able end  has  (piieted  the  spirit  of  "  fillibusterism"  for  a  time. 

In  August,  1857,  a  tremendous  financial  crisis  was  suddenly  pre- 
cipitated upi>n  the  country.  The  credit  system  had  grown  to  one 
of  its  periodical  conditions  of  over-trading ;  ahnost  everyone  was 
too  largely  both  debtor  and  creditor,  and  the  values  for  adjusting 
accounts  were  not  at  hand.  All  at  once  the  Ohio  Life  and  Trust 
Coni|>any,  a  gnat  money  corporation,  holding  vast  trust  funds,  failed 
utterly;  a  itunic  instantly  spread  ;  the  banks  suspended  throughout 
the  country,  niaimracturcs  ceased,  business  stopped,  failures  took  place 
everywhere,  vast  numbers  of  operatives  were  thrown  out  of  employ- 
ment, and  uneasiness  and  distress  pervaded  the  whole  country.  Dur- 
ing the  year  ending  December  25,  1857,  there  were  5,123  failures,  for 
a  total  of  «i2SH, 750,000.     In  December  and  January  the  banks  began 


JAMES     BUCHANAN, 


437 


to  resume  payment,  but  business  only  revived  very  slowly  and  im- 
perfectly. The  subsequent  political  troubles  have  retarded  its  re- 
covery ;  though  it  has  been  gaining  slowly  but  steadily. 

September  6th,  1857,  the  first  overland  mail  from  California 
reached  San  Antonio,  Texas,  having  been  nearly  two  months  on 
the  road  ;  being  the  first  of  a  series  of  enterprising  efforts  which 
have  since  established  a  regular  and  quick  communication  between 
the  older  states  and  their  youthful  sister  on  the  Pacific. 

In  February  and  March  of  1858,  a  wide-spread  revival  of  religion 
originated  in  JNew  York  and  several  other  large  cities,  one  immedi- 
ate cause  of  which  was  by  many  thought  to  have  been  the  general 
distress  from  the  business  troubles  of  the  previous  autumn.  It  was 
remarkable  for  not  being  confined  to  any  one  denomination ;  and 
the  "union  meetings"  which  were  held  were  maintained  with  much 
interest  for  more  than  a  year. 

In  June  of  the  same  year,  was  concluded  the  treaty  of  Tien-tsin, 
with  China.  This  negotiation  was  conducted  in  the  most  amicable 
manner,  and  secured  the  United  States  greater  advantages  for  trade 
than  had  ever  been  extorted  by  military  force  by  the  European 
nations.  The  success  of  this  treaty  excited  some  jealousy  in  the 
English  and  French,  who  were  both  at  that  very  time  endeavoring 
to  obtain  similar  ones,  and  were  backed  up  by  the  presence  of  con- 
siderable military  forces. 

In  the  early  part  of  February,  1859,  a  treaty  of  amity  and  com- 
merce was  also  concluded  with  the  South  American  stato  of  Para- 
guay. Negotiations  were  more  than  once  attempted  with  Spain,  with 
a  view  to  obtain  possession  of  Cuba  ;  but  that  kingdom  has  uniformly 
and  peremptorily  rejected  <  very  proposition  of  the  kind  ;  and  will 
evidently  never  part  with  so  valuable  a  portion  of  her  dominions 
unless  compelled  by  force.  A  slight  disagreement  also  ciccurred 
with  England,  respecting  the  proprietorship  of  the  island  of  San 
Juan,  a  little  island  in  tl.e  strait  between  Vancouver's  Island  and 
Washington  Territory.  Gen.  Harney,  the  American  conimandor  m 
the  Western  department,  occupied  the  island  with  troops  in  July, 
1859,  on  which  Gov.  Douglas,  of  British  Columbia,  made  a  protest, 
and  some  English  men-of-war  assembled  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
were  quickly  followed  by  some  American  ones.  There  seemed 
great  danger  of  a  collision,  but  the  promptness  and  prudence  of  (^en. 
Scott  averted  it,  and  the  question  has  been  reserved  for  a  subsequent 
friendly  decision.     The  spot  in  question  is  perfectly  insignificant ; 


I 


» 


i 


438 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


the  only  quarrel  on  the  subject  would  be  upon  a  mere  point  of  honor ; 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  day  for  such  quarrels  between  nations 
is  gone  by. 

Any  slight  feelings  on  this  subject  were  however  effaced  by  the 
remarkably  friendly  feelings  shown  during  the  visit  of  the  Prince 
of  Wales  to  this  country,  during  the  fall  of  1860.  The  Prince,  after 
spending  two  months  in  the  British  North  American  dominions, 
crossed  to  Detroit  on  September  21,  1860,  and  made  a  rapid  tour  by 
St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  and  Harrisburg,  to  Washington ;  thence  to  Rich- 
mond, Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Boston  and  Portland, 
where  he  embarked  for  England,  October  20th,  having  been  received 
with  a  friendly  courtesy  and  universal  demonstrations  of  pleasure 
which  were  highly  gratifying  both  to  himself  personally,  and  as  tes- 
timonies of  national  good  feeling. 

In  the  earlier  part  of  the  same  summer,  the  public  curiosity  had 
been  even  more  excited  by  the  visit  of  an  embassy  from  the  empire 
of  Japan,  so  long  secluded  from  the  commonwealth  of  nations. 
This  embassv.  of  several  noblemen  of  high  rank,  was  a  conse- 
quence  of  the  treaty  so  wisely  concluded  by  Commodore  Perry,  and 
the  judicious  subsequent  intercourse  of  Mr.  Harris,  United  States 
Consul,  with  the  Japanese.  The  embassy  was  conveyed  to  San 
Francisco,  and  thence  to  Hampton  Roads  in  United  States  vessels; 
proceeded  to  Washington,  and  thence  to  New  York,  whence  they 
returned  home  in  the  Niagara,  richly  laden  with  gifts  and  apparently 
favorably  impressed  with  the  people  and  manners  of  their  new  ally. 

Thus  the  foreign  relations  of  the  country  were  on  the  whole  ami- 
cable and  prosperous.  The  latter  part  of  Buchanan's  term  of  office 
was  however  marked  by  domestic  occurrences  of  a  very  different 
character.  The  unfortunate  misunderstandings  between  the  South- 
ern and  Northern  States  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  were  much  ag- 
gravated at  the  South  by  the  fanatical  proceedings  of  John  Brown, 
who  in  October,  1851),  entered  Virginia  with  about  seventeen  men, 
with  the  crazy  design  of  an  organized  liberation  of  the  slaves. 
Brown  had  become  a  monomaniac  in  consequence  of  outrages  m- 
flicted  u|)nii  himself  and  family  in  Kansas.  By  a  sudden  attack, 
he  mastered  the  United  States  arsenal  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  the 
town ;  but  was  soon  overpowered  by  United  States  and  Virginia 
forces,  not  however  without  a  desperate  resistance,  in  which  twelve 
of  his  wht)Ie  force  of  nineteen  were  killed.  He  and  all  the  rest 
were  tried,  condemned,  and  hung,  under  the  laws  of  Virginia. 


*- 


v   ,.,,...>.'» 


':?"f^-y 

'"  '1 

^H 

3m 

I      *St' 

.  "9: 

:',♦■ 

.     4', 

^r 


*  »^  -a^j      •  .  %* 


r*i*^. 


^Isiit^ 


.  WSW. 


t^ 


aHW^i^   >'<#»^- 


^tp<ii«df^'^^ 


43« 

the  ot>,ivi, 
an.'i 


AMK-PinA      ITTTTafpj^rpiTJl^ 


ii  i>e  upon  a  mere  pcwntof  lH>nof  ; 
.'  such  quarrels  between  nations 


.    .     ...w;  cl  wero  however  etiaced  l^  the 

,    i:e|iti|j;»  xtvouii  durn^g  the  visit  of  the  Vrmcfi 

V-  ^imvi-i  tyi  coinitry,  dunng  the  faH  of  1860.     Ti;o  Prince,  aiier 

"^  ^jifMiif^  two  nionthkS  in  the  liritish   Noi'lli  A ;nerican  doiriinioiv 

"■.Wi!  lo  Detroit  on  September  21,  1860,  and  latule  a  rapid  tour  by 

•Sl  Louis,  Cincinnati,  aiid  Hai  risburij;,  to  Washington;  thence  to  Rich- 

imuul,  Bilhimore,  Phiiadelj.'hia,    New    Vork,  Boston    and   Poriland', 

wliere  he. embarked  lor  England,  f'elober  '^Oth,  having  been  re(»iv<'d 

with  a  friendly  cuurtesy  and  univ(»r<>tii  demonstrations  of  plesieure 

which  were  liighly  gratifying  botii  to  hiraseU'  personally,  and  as  tes- 

timonicis  uf  national  good  ^e^eliug.  - .    •  :  -     ;  :;>   *  '>:  "^ 

In  ihe  t-.ihr.  f^.,'  fj4'  th*  summer,  the  ptiwic  citriositv  i::ul, 

bc'jii  t  ■,4*5-  ifs...  '  \A'  ■'■  '<  i  ■  '  ■■•■  9j>  .,  ,«i/-««av  from  the  en. -ire 

o!  Japan,   *■•     ' -'/(^  •;•'      •,  'j^r^'*''^'*»Tihh  of   nati^'its. 

T'fj^    -•■■■'ijssy.  ♦•}!  i^t^.ex'ki  I  -1-;   a   c«ia»o* 

'  ,!'■  •'- *i5  gi»,,i!|^i«*jye«M»cJuded  by  ♦'<.mmjodfflr6"i*eny.  at\d 
'■  •  ;        vi-    't»^ --'- itj.'VfeJ  tec^^  Harris,  tui ted  S 

^'•ni.^ul,   .', !iri  tiic  J.i^eejit^.     Viw  embassy  was  conveyed  ttj 
Francisco,  and  tlience  lo  llaniptiin  Roads  in  United  Sta'es  V' 
inoccoded  to  Wasliinglon,  and  tlience  to  J\ew  York,  whence 
Txturncd  lioine  in  the  Niagara,  richly  laden  w  ilh  gifts  aid  appn:  ■ 
favoral)ly  impressed  wilh  the  peo|)l0  and  mai.uers  of  their  new  «i'} 
'I'hu.s.tlic  luieigu  relations  of  the  country  wore  on  the  whoie  atni* 
r.ii;li.'  :iMfl  prosperous.     The  latter  part  of  liuciianau  s  term  of  orfif.e 
!.')■  m;uLcd  by  domestic  occurrenci,:*  of  a  .veiy  different 
lie  un'ortunute  misunderstandingi  between  the  Soulh- 
>.<i  .•ni  iStates  Oju  the  subject  of  «!!» very,  weve  much  )iqf» 
'«    N  >4ih  by  the  faJPitticaJ  pru>  ecdiuga  of  John  Browi 
•  •'  wit'.i  about  seventeen  moo, 

y».   _^t  i/.ed   libcraiiou  of  the  slaves. 

IP  f'i^nsequence  of  <m>' ii;.'.s  111" 
u!   i\ai;  .IS.  'By  a  sudden  attack, 
■fenal  at  Harfter';?  Ferr>-,  aJid  the 
i.V  United  States  and    Vi  i^in 


!       AfiS 


s\  hi* 


Tl 


■,h 


n;-.>\vn  IkkI    i/t     -  ■■li 

llictcd   upon    hmi-!t 

he  (na.sfc'r(.d  the  U 

(own  ,  but  wa.s  so( 

frrccs,  not  however  without  a  dodfiejate  resistance,  in  v>h' 

of  hiH  whole  force  of  nir.  were  Jvi lied.     He  and  aa  in- 

were  tiieJ,  couchimned.  anu  imng.  under  the  laws  of  V'irc^t;'i». 


t< 


ov« 


I 


^i^ 


XL 


n 


ii' 


JAMES    BUCHANAN. 


430 


Though  only  the  mad  scheme  of  a  little  knot  of  fanatical  men,  this 
startling  occurrence  was  extensively  believed  to  indicate  the  settled 
feelings  and  intentions  of  the  north.  In  accordance  with  t^>o  extreme 
state-rights  doctrines  which  have  always  characterized  So.  crn  pol- 
iticians, the  right  of  seceding  from  the  Union  had  constantly  been 
asserted  at  the  South  for  many  years  ;  and  when  during  the  political 
movements  of  1860,  it  became  evident  that  the  Republican  party  had 
greatly  increased,  and  was  likely  to  elect  its  candidate  for  the  pres- 
idency in  November,  1800,  South  Carolina  at  once  declared  that  in 
such  event  she  would  at  once  leave  the  Union.  Similar  threats  were 
made  in  other  southern  states.  The  Democratic  nominating  conven- 
tion which  met  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  23d  April,  1860,  was  broken  up 
by  the  secession  of  Southern  delegations,  dissatisfied  with  the  position 
of  northern  democrats  on  the  slavery  question.  It  met  again  at  Balti- 
more, June  18,  but  again  broke  up  for  the  same  reason,  and  the  south- 
ern wing  nominated  J.  C.Breckinridge  of  Kentucky,  and  Joseph  Lane 
of  Oregon,  for  president  and  vice-president,  the  northern  one  choosing 
S.  A.  Douglas  of  Illinois,  and  B.  Fitzpatrick  of  Alabama,  who  soon 
withdrew,  and  H.  V.  Johnson,  of  Georgia,  was  substituted.  In  the 
meanwhile  the  Republican  convention  had  met  at  Chicago,  16th  May, 
and  had  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois,  for  president,  and 
Hannibal  Hamlin,  of  Maine,  for  vice-president.  A  fourth  ticket  was 
placed  in  the  field  by  a  convention  calling  itself  the  Constitutional  and 
Union  Convention,  which  met  at  Baltimore,  May  9th,  and  nominated 
John  Bell  of  Tennesee,  and  Edward  Everett  of  Massachusetts.  These 
candidates  were  supported  by  many  of  the  more  conservative  and  tem- 
perate men  of  all  parts  of  the  country.  But  their  number  was  rela- 
tively small ;  and  the  result  of  the  vote  in  November  was  the  election 
of  Lincoln  and  Hamlin  ;  as  indeed  was  plainly  foreseen,  upon  the  di- 
vision of  the  Democrats.  Their  electoral  vote  was  180,  to  75  foi 
Breckinridge  and  Lane,  39  for  Bell  and  Everett,  and  12  for  Douglas  and 
Johnson.  The  popular  votes  were,  for  Lincoln  and  Hamlin  1,85, ,610; 
Douglas  and  Johnson  1,365,976  ;  Breckinridge  and  Lane,  847,953 ; 
Bell  and  Everett,  590,631.  As  soon  as  Lincoln's  election  became  cer- 
tain, meetings  for  secession  were  held  in  South  Carolina,  and  the  Leg- 
islature called  a  convention  which  met  December  11th,  and  on  the 
20th  passed  an  ordinance  asserting  that  the  Union  of  the  States  was 
thereby  dissolved,  and  South  Carolina  no  longer  a  member  of  the  same. 
Similar  conventions  were  soon  called,  and  ordinances  passed  in  Geor- 
gia, Alabama,  Florida,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Texas  ;  and  those  states 


440 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


severally  took  possession  of  all  the  United  States  fortifications,  vessels, 
funds  and  property  within  their  limits,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  only 
points  retained  by  the  United  States  authorities  being  Fort  Sumter,  in 
Charleston  harbor.  Fort  Jefferson  at  the  Tortugas,  and  Fort  Pickens 
at  Pensacola.  These  states  then  assembled  by  representatives  at 
Montgomery,  Alabama,  on  the  4th  of  February,  1861,  and  proceeded 
to  adopt  a  constitution  and  laws  for  a  new  confederacy,  which  took 
the  name  of  the  "  Confederate  States  of  America,"  and  to  appoint 
a  government  for  the  same,  of  which  Jefferson  Davis,  of  Mississippi, 
was  voted  president,  and  inaugurated  on  the  14th  of  the  month.  All 
these  states  had  instantly  raised  military  forces,  professing  to  appre- 
hend warlike  measures  from  the  United  States  government,  and  a  mili- 
tary organization  was  also  formed  by  the  convention  at  Montgomery. 
The  senators  and  representatives  of  the  seceding  states  one  after 
another  vacated  their  places  in  Congress.  Violent  efforts  were  made, 
but  in  vain,  to  draw  the  northern  tier  of  slave  states  into  the  seces>sion 
movement.  The  constituted  government  of  the  United  Staces,  not- 
withstanding the  departure  of  some  of  its  members,  rempinea  in  ac- 
tion, and  its  ordinary  business  proceeded.  Many  threats  wore  made, 
and  conspiracy  apprehended,  to  prevent  the  inauguration  of  the  new 
president.  But  the  ceremony  was  duly  performed  on  the  usual  day  and 
in  the  usual  manner,  and  the  new  administration  peaceably  assumed 
the  reins  of  government.  It  enters  upon  its  duties  under  strange 
and  trying  circumstances  ;  finding  seven  states  nrofessedly  out  of  the 
Union,  similar  movements  threatened  and  attempted  in  eight  others, 
the  departments  at  Washington  flung  by  the  bad  management  of  their 
officers  into  the  extremest  disorder.  In  fact,  if  voting  and  asserting 
were  sufficient,  the  government  would  not  be  a  government,  for  the 
nation  which  it  governs  would  not  be  existing.  But  it  does  exist; 
and  by  the  blessing  of  God  will  continue  to  do  so  and  to  prosper. 
Against  this  attempt  to  maim  the  fair  proportions  of  our  country,  it 
will  be  well  to  record  some  formalities  more  surely  indicative  of  its 
increase.  The  admission  of  Kansas  as  a  state  has  already  been 
mentioned.  Minnesota  had  been  admitted  in  May,  1858,  and  Oregon 
in  February,  1859.  Three  new  territories  were  erected  by  an  act 
passed  in  February,  1861,  viz.,  Colorado,  from  the  neighboring  parts 
of  the  four  governments  of  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Utah  and  New  Mex- 
ico ;  Nevada,  from  the  west  of  Utah  and  east  of  California ;  and 
Dacotah,  between  Minnesota  and  the  Missouri  River;  thus  making 
a  total  of  seven  territories. 


CAIADA. 


i 


The  province  of  Canada  embraces  a  wide  and  extremely  diversi- 
fied section  of  country,  extending  between  latitude  42°  and  53"^ 
North  and  longitude  64°  and  90°  West,  and  comprising  an  area  of 
340,803  square  miles.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Territory  ;  on  the  west  by  Lakes  Superior  and  Huron  ;  on  the 
south  by  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario  ;  and  on  the  east  by  the  River  and 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  New  Brunswick,  and  a  portion  of  ihe  Uni- 
ted States,  viz. :  the  States  of  New  York,  Vermont,  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  Maine. 

The  province  of  Canada,  called  the  province  of  Quebec  prior  to 
1791,  was  in  that  year  divided  into  the  two  provinces  of  Upper  and 
Lower  Canada,  under  distinct  governments,  but  in  1840  they  were 
re-united  by  an  Act  of  the  Imperial  Legislature.  Lower  Canada 
formerly  was  comprised  between  45°  and  52°  of  North  Latitude, 
embracing  an  area  of  205,853  square  miles,  exclusive  of  the  sur- 
face occupied  by  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  and  a  portion  of  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence,  embracing  52,000  square  miles.  The  romanti- 
cally situated  city  of  Quebec  contains  a  population  of  50,000.  It  is 
the  great  shipping  depot  of  the  Canada  lumber  trade,  and  has  also 
a  large  trade  in  ship  buii.'.ing. 

The  island  of  Montreal,  thirty-two  miles  long  by  ten  broad,  lies 
between  the  Ottawa  and  St.  Lawrence,  and  contains  the  city  of 
Montreal,  the  commercial  emporium  of  Canada,  with  a  population 
of  70,000.  The  soil  on  this  island,  as  well  as  on  Isle  Jesus,  is  ac- 
counted good,  and  many  of  the  farms  are  conducted  on  scientific 
principles,  and  with  great  profit,  in  consequence  of  their  proximity 
to  the  local  market  of  the  city  of  Montreal. 

To  the  south  of  the  St.  Lawrence  are  the  populous  districts  of 
Gaspie  and  Bonaventure,  a  tract  more  properly  belonging  to  New 
Brunswick  than  to  Lower  Canada. 

The  section  of  the  country  known  by  the  name  of  the  Eastern 


I  1 


' 


' 


442 


AMEltICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


Townships,  and  which  are  properly  so  called,  comprises  that  great 
extent  of  habitable  and  fertile  country  between  the  Chambly  and 
Chaudi^Jre  Rivers  in  one  direction,  and  between  the  frontier  lines 
of  Maine,  Vermont,  and  New  Hampshire,  and  the  Seigniories  of  the 
Districts  of  Montreal,  Saint  Francis,  Three  Rivers,  and  part  of 
Quebec,  in  the  other.  This  territory  promises  to  become  the  rich- 
est, the  most  populous,  and  the  most  flourishing  part  of  Lower  Can- 
ada: not  onlv  on  account  of  its  climate,  milder  than  that  of  tlie 
shores  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  of  the  immense  extent  of  excellent  and 
fertile  soil  which  it  includes,  and  of  its  abundant  streams  of  water, 
but  also  because,  while  bordering  on  the  tei'ritory  of  the  United 
States,  it  is  traversed  by  the  main  lines  of  communication  between 
the  two  countries:  namely,  the  railroad  from  Montreal  to  Richmond, 
and  from  Richmond  to  Portland,  on  the  Atlantic;  and  by  that  from 
Richmond  to  Quebec,  forming  part  of  the  Grand  Trunk  line.  The 
six  great  counties  of  Sherbrooke,  Stanstead,  Shefibrd,  Missisquoi, 
Drummond,  and  Megantic,  contain  about  4,880,400  acres  of  laud. 

Ui)per  Canada  is  divided  into  three  great  natural  sections,  viz. : 
the  eastern,  central,  and  western — the  eastern  containing  the  trian- 
gular territory  between  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Ottawa — the  cen- 
tral having  nearly  a  square  form,  extending  from  Lake  Ontario  on 
the  south  to  Lake  Nipissing  on  the  north,  and  stretching  from  the 
latter  lake  to  the  Ottawa  eastward — and  the  third,  comprising  an 
irregular  triangular  peninsula,  inclosed  nearly  by  Lakes  Ontario, 
Erie,  St.  Clair,  and  Huron,  and  the  channels  by  which  these  are 
connected.  The  counties  of  Glengary,  Stormont,  Dundas,  Leeds, 
and  Grenville,  Prescott,  Russell,  Lanark,  Renfrew,  and  Carlton,  are 
situated  in  the  eastern  section.  The  counties  of  Frontenac,  Len- 
nox, Addington,  Hastings,  Prince  Edward,  Northumberland,  Dur- 
ham, Peterborough,  the  four  Ridings  of  York  and  Sincoe,  comprise 
the  central  section.  The  western  section,  which  includes  the  coun- 
ties of  Halton,  Wentworth,  Lincoln,  Welland,  Haldimand,  Norfolk, 
Middlesex,  Kent,  Essex,  Huron,  Waterloo,  and  Oxford,  is  advancing 
with  great  rapidity,  and  attracting  the  greater  share  of  the  emigra- 
tion, and  is,  in  many  respects,  the  garden  of  Western  Canada.  Its 
surface  is  remarkably  level,  containing  scarcely  a  hill,  and  its  inte- 
rior is  traversed  by  several  fine  rivers — the  Welland,  Grand  River, 
Thames,  and  Sydenham. 

The  St.  Lawrence  is  the  pride  of  the  Canadian  people,  and  the 
highway  down  which  are  ^)oured,  to  the  ocean,  their  surplus  pro- 


CANADA. 


443 


ducts,  rjmcrging  from  Lake  Ontario  at  Kingston,  it  p\irsues  its 
course,  widening  occasionally  into  expanses  of  lakes,  till  it  expends 
its  waters,  previously  swollen  near  Montreal  by  the  river  Ottawa,  in 
the  great  Gulf  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  Its  extreme  course,  from 
Lake  Ontario,  is  over  600  miles,  and  its  width  varies  from  three- 
quarteirs  of  a  mile  to  twenty-five  miles. 

There  are  five  great  lakes  intimately  connected  with  each  other, 
viz.:  Lakes  Superior,  Huron,  Michigan,  Erie,  and  Ontario,  which 
embrace  an  area  of  100,000  square  miles.  Lake  Superior  is  the 
largest  inland  lake  in  the  world.  Lake  Ontario  is  connected  with 
Lake  Erie  by  the  Niagara  River,  35  miles  long,  broken  in  its  course 
by  the  Falls  of  Niagara.  Its  area  is  about  7,000  square  miles.  A 
ship  canal  has  been  constructed,  on  the  American  side,  between 
Lakes  Superior  and  Huron,  at  the  Sault  St.  Marie,  to  overcome  an 
interruption  to  the  navigation  of  a  mile  and  a  half  in  extent. 

The  Lakes  afford  profitable  fisheries,  and  the  country  of  the  Lakes 
seems  formed  to  be  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  regions  in 
America.  The  fisheries  are  carried  on  chiefly  in  the  south-west 
of  Prince  Edward  County,  on  Lake  Ontario  and  on  Lake  Huron, 
and  in  1852  produced  11,884  barrels,  principally  of  white  fish  and 
salmon  trout.  The  waters  of  Lakes  Huron  and  Superior  are 
teeming  with  life,  and  on  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Superior  alone, 
30,000  barrels  might  be  yearly  put  up  for  market. 

The  forests  of  Canada  are  extremely  valuable  and  a  source  of 
great  revenue.  In  1852  the  products  of  the  forest  exported, 
during  that  year,  were  valued  at  £l,351,'713  9s.  Id.  and  of  this 
large  amount  the  region  of  the  Ottawa  furnished  a  considerable 
proportion.  The  timber  which  is  most  'extensively  exported  is 
that  of  the  white  pine  tree — a  species  of  wood  of  which  Canada 
possesses  inexhaustible  quantities.  It  is  easily  wrought,  compari- 
tively  free  from  knots,  and  very  durable.  It  is  much  used  for  the 
decks  of  vessels  and  also  for  their  lower  masts.  It  is  exported  to 
Britain  in  the  shape  of  masts,  deals,  laths,  and  squared  timber.  In 
the  process  of  settling,  clearings  are  made,  and  the  wood  is  thrown 
into  heaps  and  burned,  and  from  which  large  quantities  of  pot 
and  pearl  ashes  are  manufactured  and  exported,  the  price  of  which 
often  greatly  assists  the  settler  in  meeting  the  first  cost  of  his  land. 
Pot  and  pearl  ashes  to  the  value  of  232,004/.  were  exported  in  1852. 


•*#4:->^ 


",n 


444 


AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 


The  mineral  resources  of  Canada  are  especially  valuable  and  are 
being  rapidly  developed. 

The  manufactures  of  the  Province  are  yet  in  their  infancy,  but 
are  ann'ially  increasing  in  variety  and  extent,  and  rising  in  impor- 
tance. Lower  Canada,  especially,  is  admirably  adapted  for  the 
extension  of  manufactures.  "  The  long  winter,  in  which  compara- 
tively few  of  the  departments  of  out-door  agricultural  labor  can  be 
engaged  in,  and  the  peculiarly  appropriate  character  of  the  indus- 
trious French  Canadians  of  the  interior,  adapting  them  for  such 
occupations,  render  it  very  desirable  that  the  facilities  afforded  by 
the  abundant  water  powers  and  comparative  cheapness  and  plenti- 
fulness  of  labor,  capable  of  becoming  skilled,  should,  to  a  large 
extent,  be  taken  advantage  of.  We  shall  then  see,  from  one  of  its 
fertile  valleys  to  another,  a  chain  of  thronging  factories  extended  ; 
and  the  clang  of  the  heavy  hammer,  and  the  jar  of  the  machinery, 
and  the  busy  hum  of  human  industry  will  mingle  with,  and  be  heard 
high  above  the  rapid  splash  and  echoing  fall  of  the  many  streams 
which,  now  lavish  of  power,  invite  the  labor  of  the  artisan.  The 
clog  of  the  Seignorial  Tenure,  in  Lower  Canada,  has,  to  some 
extent,  impeded  the  progress  of  this  branch  of  industry ;  but  as  it 
may  be  now  regarded  among  the  things  that  were,  it  is  predicted 
that  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  Canada — and  Lower  Canada 
especially — will  be  largely  engaged  in  various  manufactures,  and 
add  important  contributions  in  this  way  to  the  common  wealth." 
New  branches  of  productive  industry  are  continually  arising,  and 
new  manufactures  are  carried  on.  For  instance,  the  banks  of  the 
Lachine  Canal  at  Montreal,  are  being  clustered  with  busy  manufuc- 
tories.  A  large  sugar  refinery  has  been  erected.  An  India-rubber 
manufactory  is  in  active  operation,  and  paint  mills,  axe  i.ictories, 
machiae  shops,  nail  and  spike  factories,  &c.,  have  been  built.  Ship 
building  is  a  very  important  trade  in  and  about  the  city  of  Quebec, 
and  gives  employment  to  a  very  large  number  of  hands,  while  the 
colonial  bui!t  vessels,  for  build  and  strength,  have  acquired  a  high 
reputation.  In  the  year  1813,  there  were  built  at  Quebec  4S  ves- 
sels ;  tonnage,  13,785  ;  while  in  1853,  there  were  70  vessels  ;  tonnage, 
51,637  ;  showing  a  large  and  decided  increase.  The  average  annual 
value  of  vessels  built  at  Quebec,  has  been  estimated  at  £500, Ono. 

The  commerce  of  Canada  is  being  extended  and  developed  with 
giant  strides  It  has  passed  the  period  of  infancy  and  altaintvl  a 
magnitude  which  may,  perhaps,  at  first  view  seem  disproportioned 


pi 

i 


CANADA. 


445 


to  the  youth  of  the  country ;  for  it  is  to  be  borne  in  nnind  that  in 
1782,  what  now  constitutes  the  fertile,  wealth,  and  populous  West- 
ern Canada,  with  a  population  of  over  a  million,  was  a  wilderness. 
The  total  value  of  the  imports  into  Canada  in  the  year  1853, 
was  £7,995,359  1*.  Id.  Of  this  amount  £4,622,280  3s.  lOtZ.  was 
imported  from  Britain,  £158,164  195.  7d.  from  the  British  North 
American  Colonies,  and  £2,945,550  ITs.  from  the  United  States ; 
the  residue  from  other  sources.  For  the  same  year  the  exports  of 
the  Province  were  £5,950,325  15s.  4J.  currency,  of  which  £2,800- 
351  19s.  4(i.  were  exported  from  Great  Britain,  £2,681,363  15s.  8d. 
to  the  United  States,  £345,116  7s.  llcZ.  to  the  other  North  Ameri- 
can Colonies,  and  £5,045  10s.  lid.  to  the  British  West  Indies.  Of 
the  imports,  tli6  total  amount  of  goods  paying  duty  was  £7,551,381 
3s.  Gd.  of  which  £4,550,383  15s.  8cZ.  were  from  liritain,  and  £2,004- 
145  lis.  5d.  from,  the  United  States.  In  1852  the  exports  were 
£3,826,901  15s.  5d.  and  the  imports  £5,071,023  3s.  Ud.  showing 
an  immense  advance  in  the  commerce  of  1853  over  the  previous 
year,  amounting,  taking  both  imports  and  exports  together,  to  57  per 
cent.  In  1849  the  nett  revenue  from  Custom  duties  was  £412.737 
3s.  9d. ;  in  1852  it  was  £705,022  19s.  9d.;  but  in  1853  it  was  £980- 
697  16s.  lOd.  currency. 

The  total  value  of  the  exported  produce  of  the  mines  of  Canada, 
was,  in  1853,  £27,339,  of  which  copper  ore  furnished  £23,020.  The 
total  export  of  the  produce  of  the  fisheries  was  £85,000  13s.  Sd. 
The  produce  of  the  forest,  which  was  exported  in  1853,  is  large, 
there  having  been  exports  from  that  source  to  the  value  of  £2,355- 
255  2s.  3d.  of  which  £1,682,125  12s.  Id.  found  their  way  to  Brit- 
ain, and  £652,534  5s.  4(i.  to  the  United  States.  Of  animals  and 
their  produce  the  export  was  £342,631  7s.  Vegetable  food  consti- 
tuted the  second  leading  export,  viz. :  £1,995,095  15s.  dd.  of  which 
£1,219,861  14s.  Gd.  was  exported  to  the  United  States,  £502,100 
4s.  Sd.  to  Britain,  and  £273,008  10s.  Id.  to  the  other  British  North 
American  Colonies.  The  export  of  manufactures  was  £35,100  9s. 
to  wliich  is  to  be  auded  for  ships  built  at  Quebec  during  the  year, 
say  £020,187  10s.  currency;  the  total  value  of  exports  from  sea  ports 
being  £3,260,716  2s.  lid.  and  from  inland  ports  £2,23(5,311  7,v.  dd. 
From  the  seaward  |)orts  there  were  exported  from  Quebec, 
£2.443,457  ;  Montreal,  £746,050  ;  Caspo.  £32,607  ;  New  Carlisle, 
£29.912;  and  from  Amherst,  £11,597.  In  the  year  1853  there 
arrived  at   the  port  of  Quebec   1,351  vessels,  with  a  tonnage  of 


446 


AMERICA  ILLUSTRATED. 


570.738.  In  the  same  year  1,406  vessels  departed  from  this  port. 
In  the  same  year  243  vessels  arrived  at  the  inland  port  of  Montreal, 
at  the  foot  of  the  canal  navigation.  In  1817  the  first  Canadian 
steamers  on  Lake  Ontario  were  built.  In  1818  there  was  only 
one  steamer  on  Lake  Erie,  and  forty  sailing  vessels  above  Niagara 
Falls.  Now  there  are  hundreds.  The  inward  tonnage  of  Lake  and 
river  steamers,  in  1853,  was  2,175,241  British,  and  1,102,239  Ameri- 
can ;  in  all,  3,277,480.  In  the  same  year  the  tonnage  inwards  of 
sailing  vessels  was  544,509;  the  outward  tonnage  of  steamers  was 
3,070,509.  Of  these  2,070,117  were  British,  and  1,006,392  Ameri- 
can, and  of  sailing  vessels  571,814.  The  total  inward  and  outward 
tonnage  being  7,470,312.  There  were  built  within  the  Province,  in 
1853,  136  sailing  vessels,  with  a  tonnage  of  57,722.  " 

The  trade  between  the  Canadas  and  the  United  States  is  very 
large,  and  will  be  immensely  stimulated  by  the  Reciprocity  Treaty. 
In  1849  the  exports  to  the  United  States  were  $1,481,082  ;  and  the 
imports  from,  $4,243,724.  In  1853,  the  exports  to  the  United 
States  were  £2,681,363  15s.  8d.  or  $10,726,455,  and  the  imports 
from  ditto  were  £2,945,536  17s.  or  $11,782,147;  thus  showing  a 
surprising  extension  of  the  Reciprocity  Treaty  trade. 

This  treaty,  in  the  first  place,  opens  up  to  the  Americans  the  right 
to  use  the  sea  fisheries  in  the  British  waters,  the  salmon  and  river 
fisheries  being  excluded  from  its  operation.  Secondly,  it  provides 
that  the  following  articles,  the  growth  and  produce  of  the  British 
Colonies,  or  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  admitted  into  each  coun- 
try free  of  duty, — grain,  flour,  breadstuffs  of  all  kinds,  animals  ol'ali 
kinds,  fresh,  smoked  and  salted  meats,  cotton,  wool,  seeds  and  vege- 
tables, undried  and  dried  fruits,  fish,  products  of  fish  and  of  all  other 
creatures  living  in  the  water,  poultry,  eggs,  hides,  furs,  skins  or  tails, 
undressed  ;  stone  or  marble  in  its  crude  state,  slate,  butter,  cheese, 
tallow,  lard,  horns,  manures,  ores  of  metal  of  all  kinds,  coal,  pitch, 
tar,  turpentine,  ashes,  timber  and  lumber  of  all  kinds,  frewood, 
plants,  shrubs,  trees,  felts  and  wools,  oil,  broom  corn,  and  bark  ;  gyp- 
sum, ground  or  unground;  hewn  or  wrought  or  un wrought  burr  or 
grindstones  ;  dyestuH's,  flax,  hemp  and  tow,  unmanufactured  ;  unman- 
ufactured tobacco,  rag.?.  And  thirdly,  it  throws  open  the  navigation 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  canals,  during  the  will  of  the  British 
government,  to  American  citizens,  while  it  accords  to  the  British 
and  Canadian  people  the  right  to  navigate  Lake  Michigan. 

It  is  asserted  that  no  country  in  the  world  is  possessed  of  ir.oro 


» 


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If 


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venues.      "^'x 
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ii..''nns  of  sji.s.'iiv  roinu.unicati'i..   v:\vi  ine   •■■ 


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«  :..^^RiGRifc|^tt,at  preseiit,  ilu-.'-  -^  >:    Mrfe  sjrea 
.  ,|^  » jc<||n*no'lritc(l  t-).  s'. von ).•.'•■  •  -i!  >..  i  natura 
^a^t/y,  to  which  ilu-  'liifM-.s  \v.,\  i" 
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importar 

land  nav 

trade,  an 

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winter  s 

boaid  an 

tant.     In 

by,  and 

country, 

first  of  t\ 

proposed 

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The  sei 

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ing  large 

The  th 

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increase  or 

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gale,  19t,7 

feature  of  t 

by  the  Sup 

report  issut 

circulated. 

these  1,05'^ 

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The  coll 

Queen's  Cc 

Victoria  Ci 

\ 


CANADA. 


44-; 


important  and  extensive  canals  or  a  more  magnificent  system  of  in- 
land navigation,  than  is  Canada.  They  are  the  channels  of  a  great 
trade,  and  afford  large  revenues. 

As  the  navigation  of  the  St.  Lawrence  is  ice-locked  during  the 
winter  season,  the  means  of  speedy  communication  with  the  sea 
boaid  and  with  the  various  parts  of  the  interior  are  especially  impor- 
tant. In  Canada,  at  present,  there  are  three  great  lines  suggested 
by,  and  accommodated  to,  strongly  marked  natural  divisions  of  the 
country,  to  which  the  others  will  prove  tributaries  or  feeders.  The 
first  of  these  great  lines  is  the  Grand  Trunk  Railway,  which  it  is 
proposed  to  run  through  Canada  from  east  to  west,  spanning  the  St. 
Lawrence  at  Montreal,  by  the  gigantic  Victoria  Bridge. 

The  second  is  the  Great  Western  line,  traversing  one  of  the  most 
fertile  sections  of  Canada,  and  now  in  steady  operation,  and  show- 
ing large  and  increasing  roturns  of  traffic. 

The  third  is  the  Ottawa  Valley  line,  composed  of  various  links, 
and  designed  to  extend,  in  the  meantime,  from  the  city  of  Mon- 
treal to  Pembroke,  and  eventually  to  Lake  Huron  and  the  Sauk  St. 
Marie ;  the  distance  from  Montreal  to  the  Georgian  Bay  being,  by 
the  Ottawa,  about  400  miles,  against  1,000  by  the  St.  Lawrence. 

The  growth  of  the  Press  of  Canada  has  been  s'eady  and  rapid. 
The  first  newspaper  established  in  Canada  was  the  Quebec  Gazette, 
still  existing.  The  founder  of  it,  Mr.  Brown,  brought  his  press 
from  Philadelphia,  in  17G3.  The  total  number  of  newspapers  pub- 
lished in  both  sections  of  the  Province  in  Ibal  was  157. 

The  aggregate  sum  raised  for  all  educational  purposes  in  Western 
Canada  w^as,  in  1853,  the  noble  sum  of  £199,674  1^.  5d.  being  an 
increase  on  any  preceding  year  of  £23,598  2s.  5d.  The  aggregate 
sum  raised  for  the  erection  and  repairs  of  school-houses  was  £80,730 
lis.  lOd.  The  number  of  pupils  in  attendance  was,  in  the  aggre- 
gate, 191,730  ;  the  increase  during  the  year  being  15,149.  A  recent 
feature  of  the  system  is  the  establishment  of  school  libraries,  selected 
by  the  Superintendent,  and  the  issue  of  school  maps.  When  the 
report  issued,  90,000  volumes  of  general  information  had  thus  been 
circulated.  The  number  of  schools  was,  in  1853,  3,1*27;  and  of 
these  1,05'*  were  free..  2,117  lectures  were  delivered  during  the 
year,  in  schools,  on  subjects  connected  with  the  system. 

The  collegiate  institutions  of  Canada  are.  The  University  of 
Queen's  College,  situated  at  Kingston;  Trinity  College,  Toronto 
Victoria  College,  at  Cobourg,  on   Lake  Ontario ;  The  College  of 
Vol.  IV.— 57. 


» 


448 


AMEKICA  ILLUSTEATED. 


Regispolis  is  situated  at  Kingston,  and  is  maintained  and  carried  on 
under  tiie  superintendence  of  the  Roman  Ciftholic  Bishop  of  that  city. 

Population  of  Western  Canada  by  origin. — Canadians,  not  of 
French  origin,  526,093 ;  England  and  Wales,  82,699 ;  Ireland, 
176,267  ;  Scotland,  75,81 1;  Canadian  French,  26,417  ;  United  States, 
43.732  ;  from  the  countries,  20,995  ;  making  a  total  of  952,004. 

Religious  Census. — Church  of  England,  223,190  ;  Rome,  107,695 ; 
Methodists,  207,656;  Presbyterians,  204,148;  Baptists,  43,353; 
Lutherans,  12,089  ;  other  creeds,  91,872.  Churches. — Church  of 
England,  226;  Rome,  135;  Presbyterian,  257;  Methodist,  471 ; 
Quaker,  18;  Lutheran,  22;  Congregationalist,  84 ;  Baptist,  116; 
Bible  Christians,  46  ;  other  places  of  worship,  185  ;  total,  1,159. 

Population  of  Lower  Canada  by  origin. — Canadians,  not  French 
origin,  669,528;  Canadians,  of  French  origin,  125,580;  Eng- 
land and  Wales,  11,230 ;  Ireland,  51,499 ;  Scotland,  14,565;  Uni- 
ted States,  12,482;  other  countries,  5,377;  total,  890,201. 

Religious  Creeds. — Church  of  Rome,  746,860;  England,  45,402, 
Methodists,  21,183;  Presbyterians,  33,535;  Baptists,  4,433 ;  othei 
creeds,  38,782.  Churches. — Roman  Catholic,  340 ;  Church  of  Eng- 
land, 111;  Presbyterian,  57;  Methodist,  60;  Congregationalist,  20, 
Jew's  Synagogue,  1 ;  or  one  place  of  worship  for  every  1,459  inhab- 
itants, including  only  those  c  lurches  returned  on  the  census  list. 

The  revenue  of  Canada,  Qcr'.\;d  from  Custom  duties,  has  been 
augmenting  rapidly,  as  the  annual  statements  indicate.  Gross  Rev- 
enue in  1819,  £444,547  5^.  Id. ;  in  1850,  £615,694  13s.  Id. ;  in  1851, 
£737,439  05.  2d.;  in  1852,  £739,203  12^.  9d,;  and  in  1853. 
£1,029,782  15s.  4i. 


NEW  BIIUNSWICK. 


uilAlriiliiri     i , 

AREA.  —  ENGLISH  SETTLEMENT.  —  FRENCH    DISCOVERT.  —  GRANT 

TO  ALEXANDER.  —  DE  LA  TOUR  AND  CHARNISSE, —  BAY  CH\L- 

ECRS  SETTLED.  —  ENAUD  AT  BAY  CHALEl'RS.  —  PIRATES. — 

SPREAD  OF  FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS.  —  DAVIDSON  AT  III- 

RAMICHI.  —  ST.   JOHN  SETTLED.  —  ATTACK  ON  JIIRAM- 

ICHI. — MICilACS.  —  ATTACK  THE  VIPER. — 

FEROCITY  OF  MARTIN. — GOV. 

CARLETON 


New  Brunswick  is  a  country  occupying  27,020  square,  miles, 
being  nearly  as  much  as  the  whole  of  the  kingdom  of  England,  or 
as  the  states  of  New  England.  This  area  is  equal  to  17,077,300 
acres,  of  which  a  very  large  share  is  fit  for  cultivation.  It  occupies 
an  irregular  square,  and  is  bounded  north  by  Bay  Chaleurs  and 
Canada,  east  by  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  south  by  the  Bay  of 
Fundy,  and  west  by  Canada  and  the  state  of  Maine. 

New  Brunswick  has  existed  as  a  separate  province  only  since 
1781,  having  before  that  time  been  a  county  of  Nova  Scotia,  by  the 
name  of  vSunbury  county  ;  and  at  a  still  earlier  period  was  an  undis- 
tinguished portion  of  that  large  extent  of  territory  termed  Acadia. 
The  first  English  settlement  within  its  limits  was  that  atteni])ted  by 
the  Gilberts,  father  nnd  son,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy, 
in  1007.  Jacques  Cartier,  the  celebrated  French  navigator,  had 
however  landed  in  Bay  Chaleurs  long  before,  in  1531.  The  Bay  of 
Fundy  was  first  discovered  by  De  Monts,  in  May  or  June,  1004 ; 
and  on  the  21ih  of  the  latter  month  he  entered  the  St.  John,  which 
he  named  in  honor  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  whose  festival  day  it 
was.     Ue  Monts  explored  the  whole  north  coast  of  the  bay,  entered 


450 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


and  named  the  St.  Croix  river,  and  on  a  small  island  at  its  mouth 
erected  a  fort,  taking  possession  of  the  country  for  the  king  of 
France. 

With  the  remainder  of  the  territory  of  Acadia,  New  Brunswick 
remained  for  some  years  in  the  nominal  possession  of  the  French. 
Grants  of  American  territory  were,  however,  made  at  that  period  in 
a  singularly  loose  manner ;  and  without  regard  to  the  French  title, 
Acadia,  or  as  it  was  named  in  the  grant,  Nova  Scotia,  including  all 
the  territory  east  of  a  line  running  north  from  the  St.  Croix  to  the 
St.  Lawrence,  was  given  to  Sir  William  Alexander,  afterwards  Earl 
of  StirlinfT,  bv  kinff  James  I.  in  1621.  Sir  William  had  but  little 
success  in  his  endeavors  to  settle  the  country.  An  expedition  sent 
under  his  orders,  commanded  by  his  son  and  Sir  David  Kirk,  cap- 
tured the  French  fort  at  St.  Croix ;  and  a  little  afterwards,  a  French 
gentleman,  Claude  de  la  Tour,  who  owned  a  large  grant  on  the  St. 
John,  endeavored  unsuccepsfully  to  establish  a  colony  of  Scotch 
settlers  there.  In  1G29,  Sir  David  Kirk  took  Cape  Breton,  and  con- 
quered Canada,  for  the  British  crown.  But  Charles  I.,  at  the  treaty 
of  St.  Germain,  gave  up  the  whole  country  again  to  the  French 
king,  who  made  large  grants  on  the  St.  Croix  to  M.  Razillai.  Much 
of  the  northern  and  eastern  part  of  New  Brunswick  was  also  given 
to  M.  Denys.  Claude  de  la  Tour  and  his  son  Elienne  erected  forts 
and  trading  posts  on  the  St.  John,  and  set  on  foot  a  profitable  trade 
with  the  Indians.  The  governor  of  the  remaining  part  of  Acadia, 
Daubre  de  Charnisse,  and  Etienne  de  la  Tour,  soon  fell  into  a  fero- 
cious and  unscrupulous  quarrel,  for  reasons  not  distinctly  understood, 
but  doubtless  consisting  chiefly  of  jealousy  respecting  trade  and  j)ol- 
itics.  This  quarrel  became  an  open  wariare.  The  French  king 
prescribed  territorial  limits  for  the  parties,  and  then,  having  heard 
their  mutual  accusations,  sent  out  orders  to  Charnissc  to  arrest  La 
Tour  and  send  him  home  for  trial.  La  Tour,  however,  who  had 
shrewdly  cultivated  amicable  relations  with  the  Puritans  at  Boston. 
raised  there  a  force  of  lour  armed  vessels  and  tiglity  men,  and 
returning  to  his  fort,  which  was  at  the  junction  of  the  Geniscc  and 
the  St.  J  dim,  drove  Charnissc  back  to  his  own  stronghold  on  the 
Penobscot  river.  Charniss6  however  contrived  to  induce  Gov.  En- 
dicott  of  ^lassachusetts  to  become  neutral  in  the  allliir,  and  after 
being  once  ignominiously  driven  away  from  La  Tour's  fort  by  the 
vigorous  defence  made  by  Madame  La  Tour  in  her  husband's 
absence,  he  again  attacked  it  when  the  commander  was  away  on  a 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


451 


tradinfT  expedition,  and  after  being  repelled  in  several  furious  assaults, 
at  last  obtained  possession  of  it  by  a  capitulation,  which  he  shame- 
fully violated  by  hanging  the  brave  garrison,  and  leading  Madame 
La  Tour  to  the  gallows  with  a  halter  about  her  neck.  He  also  car- 
ried off  all  the  property  at  the  fort.  The  brave  Madame  de  la  Tour 
soon  died  of  sorrow  at  these  misfortunes.  The  villainous  Charnisse 
also  died  shortly  afterwards,  and  by  a  singular  vicissitude  of  fortune. 
La  Tour  married  his  vvidow,  and  by  this  marriage  and  by  the  bequest 
of  a  sister  of  Charnisse,  who  died  a  little  afterwards,  his  possessions 
became  larger  than  ever.  He  was  aided  while  in  poverty  by  his 
friends  at  Boston,  who  procured  him  money  and  a  vessel,  with  which 
he  resumed  his  trade  with  the  Indians,  but  is  said  to  have  made  only 
an  ungrateful  return  for  the  benefit.  A  creditor  of  the  deceased 
Charnisse  now  took  judgment  in  France  against  La  Tour's  estates, 
and  according  to  the  practice  in  those  days,  set  about  levyincr  execu- 
tion by  force  of  arms.  His  enterprise  was,  however,  forestalled  by 
Colonel  Sedgwick,  who  was  sent  out  by  Cromwell,  in  1G54,  to 
recover  Acadia  from  the  French,  in  which  he  succeeded  with 
remarkable  ease. 

While  these  various  fortunes  attended  the  French  settlements  in 
tf"e  south  of  the  territory  of  New  Brunswick,  other  emigrants  had 
been  establishing  themselves  at  its  northern  extremity,  on  Bay  Cha- 
leurs.  In  1638  or  1639,  a  native  of  Gascony,  Jean  Jacques  Enaud, 
had  cleared  some  land  and  established  an  Indian  trade  on  the  south 
shore  of  that  bay.  Scarcely  any  historical  accounts  have  been  pre- 
served of  Enaud  or  his  transactions.  He  was,  however,  quite 
wealthv  ;  and  from  his  remote  location,  had  little  connection  with 
the  furious  warfare  which  occupied  his  fellow-countrymen  to  the 
southward.  He  married  the  daughter  of  an  eminent  chief  of  the 
neighborhood ;  but  w^as  murdered  by  a  savage  brother-in-law  in  a 
family  quarrel,  and  his  followers  were  killed  or  driven  away  by  the 
tribe  into  which  he  had  married,  which  is  said  to  have  been  of  the 
Mohawk  race,  and  to  have  waged  successful  war  with  the  Micmacs 
of  Acadia. 

At  the  treaty  of  Breda,  in  1677,  Acadia  was  again  given  up  to  the 
French ;  for  it  seems  to  have  been  passed  backwards  and  forwards 
as  a  sort  oX  make-weight,  with  little  or  no  value  of  its  ov.-n.  So 
negligent  were  its  Europer.n  owners,  that  piratical  vessels  repeatedly 
plundered  the  countr} ,  and  even  took  the  forts  on  the  Gein-ec  and 
St.  John.     Tradition  asserts  that  at  some  points  on  the  New  Bruns- 


\ 

,  i! 
11 


452 


AMERICA    ILLUSTKATED. 


wick  coast,  as  has  so  often  been  believed  of  points  further  south, 
Captain  Kidd  buried  some  of  his  ill-gotten  treasures. 

During  the  wars  after  the  English  Revolution  of  1688,  the  French 
forts  on  the  St.  John  were  a  center  of  French  influence,  and  were 
bravely  maintained  against  the  expeditions  sent  from  England  and 
from  the  New  England  colonies.  Villabon,  the  commander  at  the 
Gemsec,  in  1G91,  made  prisoner  Mr.  Nelson,  governor  of  Nova 
Scotia,  and  sent  him  to  the  French  commander  at  Quebec.  He 
raised  a  force  of  French  and  Indians  and  took  Pemaquid  ;  and 'main- 
tained his  fortress  against  Church's  expedition  from  Massachusetts. 
All  the  European  inhabitants  of  Acadia  at  this  time  were  French ; 
and  throughout  the  frequent  transfers  of  their  sovereignty,  they 
remained  always  faithfully  attached  to  the  French  interest.  In 
1704,  Villabon  again  repelled  an  attack  from  Massachusetts.  Aca- 
dia had  been  nominally  conquered  by  the  English,  and  held  by  them, 
under  William  and  Mary ;  had  been  ceded  to  France  at  the  peace 
of  Ryswick  in  1G9G ;  was  again  invaded  under  Queen  Anne,  and 
finally  became  permanently  a  portion  of  the  British  Empire  at  the 
peace  of  Utrecht,  in  1713. 

Besides  the  settlements  on  the  St.  John  and  on  Bay  Chaleurs, 
other  French  emigrants  had  been  gradually  establishing  themselves 
along  the  eastern  coast.  About  1G72  or  1G73,  a  settlement  was 
made  at  Bale  des  Vents,  in  Miramichi  Bay,  and  others  were  formed 
at  Bay  Verte,  Nequaak,  Canadian  Point,  &c.;  Petite  Rochelle,  on 
the  Restigouche,  was  founded  and  fortified ;  and  at  Beaubair's  Point 
and  Island,  on  the  Miramichi,  quite  important  settlements  were  made. 

But  the  French  settlers  in  New  Brunswick,  except  those  on  the 
St.  John,  although  stedfast  in  their  adherence  to  French  sentiments, 
were  much  less  involved  in  the  transactions  of  the  subsequent  war, 
known  as  the  Old  French  War,  than  the  inhabitants  of  Nova  Scotia. 
Accordingly,  they  endured  but  a  small  share  of  the  hardships  accom- 
panying the  removal  of  the  Acadians  from  their  homes,  in  1755, 
during  the  war.  Indeed,  many  of  those  unfortunate  people,  escaping 
from  the  power  of  the  English,  found  shelter  among  the  French  set- 
tlements on  the  east  coast  of  New  Brunswick,  at  Miramichi  and 
elsewhcie.  At  the  end  of  the  war,  these  settlers  swore  allegiance  to 
the  English  crown ;  the  Micmac  chiefs  also  submitted  and  made  a 
treaty,  and  thus  the  French  influence,  which  had  long  survived  the 
formal  possession  of  the  country  by  that  nation,  was  finally  extin- 
guished, lo  be  replaced  by  that  of  the  English. 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


453 


Almost  iniinediately  after  this  event,  English  settlers  began  to 
enter  New  Brunswick.  In  17G4,  William  Davidson,  a  Scotchman, 
established  himself  at  Miramichi,  being  the  first  British  settler  there. 
He  received  a  large  grant  of  land,  and  in  company  with  a  Mr.  Cort, 
of  Aberdeen,  set  on  foot  a  profitable  salmon  fishery.  Another 
Scotchman,  named  Walker,  settled  at  Alston  Point,  in  Batlmrst 
Harbor,  soon  after  the  capture  of  Quebec,  one  of  whose  associates, 
John  Young,  lived  until  after  1840.  The  trade  of  this  place  was  in 
fish,  furs,  moose-skins,  and  walrus  hide,  oil  and  teeth. 

James  Simonds,  Esq.,  endeavored  to  settle  on  the  River  St.  John, 
in  1760,  but  was  driven  off  by  the  Indians.  Returning  in  1764,  with 
a  small  company,  he  reached  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  St.  John, 
then  a  dense  forest,  and  established  a  trade  with  the  Indians.  The 
first  regular  English  settlement  on  the  St.  John  was  at  Maugerville, 
in  what  is  now  Sunbury  county,  in  1766.  The  settlers  were  from 
Massachusetts,  and  other  New  England  families  joined  them  at  dif- 
ferent periods. 

The  English  population,  however,  increased  but  slowly  up  to  the 
war  of  the  American  Revolution.  During  this  war,  the  Americans 
made  considerable  efforts  to  spread  disaffection  among  the  whites 
and  to  stir  up  the  Indians  to  make  war  upon  the  English.  In  these 
attempts  they  had  some  success.  A  council  of  Micmacs  had  resolved 
to  exterminate  Davidson's  company  at  Miramichi,  and  might  have 
done  so  had  not  an  English  man-of-war,  the  Viper,  opportunely 
appeared  in  the  bay.  She  came  in  under  American  colors,  but  the 
cunning  aborigines  saw  through  the  deceit  and  laid  a  plan  to  \Jbard 
and  capture  her.  About  thirty  of  them  were  admitted,  and  being 
then  attacked,  were  killed  or  taken  after  a  desperate  struggle.  One 
ot  them,  named  Pierre  Martin,  fought  with  so  much  obstinacy  that 
he  beat  off  two  marines,  nearly  strangled  two  more,  and  after  receiv- 
ing several  severe  wounds,  snatched  a  bavonet  from  a  sailor,  and 
made  so  desperate  a  stroke  at  one  of  his  adversaries,  that  missing 
him,  the  blade  passed  through  one  of  the  vessel's  stanchions.  Even 
after  he  had  fallen  under  his  wounds,  he  sprang  up  again,  all  bathed 
in  blood  from  deep  sword-cuts,  and  leaped  furiously  at  the  throat  of 
one  of  his  own  men,  reproaching  him  for  his  cowardice,  and  nearly 
strangled  him  before  he  was  at  last  killed  by  one  of  the  crew. 

The  attempts  to  excite  the  Indians  to  war  were  not  given  up  until 
1779  ;  and  the  settlers  on  the  St.  John  suffered  great  hardships,  being 
compelled  for  a  long  time  to  watch  incessantly  against  the  savages, 


J 


454 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


and  repeatedly  to  retreat  into  a  fort  which  they  had  built  at  Oro- 
mucto.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  a  great  impulse  was  given  to  the 
prosperity  of  New  Brunswick,  by  the  removal  into  it  of  several 
thousand  disbanded  troops,  and  of  large  numbers  of  loyalist  refugees 
from  the  United  States.  On  the  IGth  of  August,  1784,  Col.  Carleton 
was  appointed  governor  of  the  new  province  of  New  Brunswick, 
which  was  in  that  year  set  off  from  Nova  Scotia,  and  thus  entered 
upon  the  present  era  of  its  history. 

Gov.  Carleton  remained  at  the  head  of  the  government  for  only 
about  two  years ;  but  the  beneficent  policy  which  he  instituted  has 
been  followed  so  successfully  as  to  have  now  established  the  pros- 
perity of  the  province  upon  a  safe  basis.  No  great  political  convul- 
sions have  marked  the  history  of  New  Brunswick  since  1784,  and  its 
history  is  an  almost  unbroken  story  of  progress  in  wealth  and  hapj)!- 
ness.  The  early  settlers,  it  is  true,  experienced  many  hardships ; 
but  no  more,  perhaps,  than  are  felt  by  the  pioneers  in  any  new  coun- 
try. The  climate  was  then  more  severe  than  of  late  years;  the  huts 
which  they  hastily  erected  near  the  site  of  St.  John,  were  not  com- 
plete when  the  winter  came  upon  them ;  and  their  sufierings  from 
cold  and  hunger  during  the  first  winter  were  exceedingly  severe. 


PR(fOR£SS  AFTER  THE  AMERICAN  WAR.  —  COLONIAL   SYSTEM  OF 
180G-7  — DUTIES  ON  TIMBER.  —  GREAT  FIRE  OF  1825. —  LOSS  AT 
NEV.CASTLB  AND  UOUOLASTOWN.  —  DISPUTED  AMERICAN 
BOUNDARY.  —  REFERENCE  TO  THE  KINO   OF    NETH- 
ERLANDS—  FINAL  SETTLEMENT.  —  PRINCE 
OF  WALES    VISIT  IN  I8G0.  —  RECEIVED  AT 
8T.  JOHN  — JOURNEY  TO  FREDERIC- 
TON. — RECEPTION  AT  FREDERIC- 
TON — RETURN. 

From  the  close  of  the  war  with  the  American  colonies  to  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century,  the  growth  of  New  Brunswick 
was  slow,  much  the  largest  share  of  the  eflbrts  of  the  inhabitants 
being  devoted  to  the  fisheries.  The  first  important  impulse  to  the 
timber  trade  arose  in  consequence  of  the  judiciou.s  regulations  of  the 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


455 


beneficent  colonial  system  adopted  by  Great  Britain  in  1806-7,  in 
consequence  of  the  French  "continental  system,"  and  the  American 
non-intercourse  acts.  The  duties  imposed  by  England  on  Baltic 
and  i^merican  timber,  which  had  been  almost  nominal,  were  now- 
increased  to  an  extent  which  protected  the  colonial  lumber  from 
competition ;  and  their  continuance  has  maintained  the  vast  timber 
trade  of  New  Brunswick  in  its  present  flourishing  state. 

In  1825,  the  commercial  interests  of  the  province  were  substan- 
tially aided  by  a  grant  from  the  home  goverrment  of  all  the  com- 
mercial privileges  possessed  by  any  other  colony.  The  same  year 
was  marked  by  a  terrific  misfortune,  the  vast  conflagration  which 
spread  devastation  over  a  great  area  of  territory  on  the  river  Mira- 
niichi.  The  summer  had  been  uncommonly  warm  and  dry.  and  the 
accidental  fires  to  which  forest  districts  are  always  liable  had  been 
remarkably  frequent  and  destructive  in  several  parts  of  Nova  Scotia 
and  New  Brunswick.  Such  a  fire  had  been  consuming  the  forests 
in  the  back  country  of  the  great  county  of  Northumberland,  in  Sep- 
tember and  the  first  dnys  of  October,  1825;  and  on  the  Gth  October, 
it  was  evidently  approaching  the  town  of  Nc  Acastle.  On  that  day. 
distant  flashes  and  blazes  of  fire  were  seen  by  various  persons  in 
(iiflerent  parts  of  the  woods ;  trees  and  branches  were  heard  to 
crackle  and  fall,  and  an  incessant  rumbling  noise  like  di.stant  thunder 
was  distinctly  heard.  Next  day  the  heat  of  the  fire  so  intensified 
that  of  the  weather,  as  to  become  very  enervating ;  at  noon,  a  pale 
yellowish  mist  with  a  purple  tinge  could  be  seen  rising  silently  over 
the  forest.  This  was  soon  replaced  by  a  heavy  dark  cloud  of  smoke. 
There  was  not  a  breath  of  air ;  a  dreadful  lassitude  oppressed  all  the 
population  ;  the  whole  horizon  about  the  doomed  settlements  pre- 
sented a  belt  of  fire ;  and  the  woods  trembled  and  rustled,  and  from 
within  their  depths  came  strange  and  boisterous  sounds,  and  a  con- 
stant succession  of  loud  exjilosions.  Soon  a  heavy  dark  canopy  of 
smoky  cloud  moved  over  the  settlements,  extending  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  while  beneath  it,  in  the  distance,  could  be  seen  the  leap- 
ing and  flashing  of  the  fire,  which  steadily  advanced,  with  its  dread- 
ful artillery  of  crashing  and  exploding  sounds,  and  its  dark  curtain 
of  smoke,  until  as  if  with  a  sudden  leap  the  main  body  of  the  fire 
swept  through  the  nearest  skirts  of  the  woods,  and  burst  upon  the 
narrow  bell  of  selthMuents  and  clearings  that  skirted  the  Mirumichi 
river.  This  belt,  a  hundred  miles  and  more  in  length,  including  two 
flourishing  towns.  Newcastle  and  Douglastown,  thickly  settled  along 


I 


I 


456 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


its  whole  length,  and  containing  several  thousand  inhabitants,  was  at 
nightfall  a  prosperous,  happy,  and  rich  community.  When  morning 
came,  it  was  one  ghastly  and  horrible  scene  of  death  and  destruction. 
In  Newcastle,  of  260  buildings,  twelve  only  were  left  standing;  in 
Douglasfown,  only  six  out  of  seventy;  many  of  the  vessels  lying  at 
IMiramichi  were  burned,  and  the  rest  saved  with  the  utmost  difhcult y. 
The  whole  district  was  black  with  ashe?;  crops,  trees,  houses,  were 
burned  to  the  ground,  and  so  instantaneous  and  tremendous  had  been 
the  assault  of  the  fire,  that  more  than  five  hundred  human  beings 
were  suflbcated  or  burned  in  it,  and  their  unburied  remains  lay 
scorched  or  half  burned,  scattered  here  and  there  amongst  tlie 
ashes  of  their  dwellings.  Thousands  and  thousands  of  domestic 
animals  were  burned  ;  unknown  multitudes  of  wild  beasts  and  birds ; 
and  even  the  salmon  and  other  fish  of  the  river,  poisoned  by  the  lye 
formed  by  the  enormous  quantities  of  ashes  swept  into  it,  floated 
ashore,  dead,  in  countless  numbers.  The  whole  area  burned  over 
was  estimated  at  six  thousand  square  miles.  The  misery  and  pov- 
erty  of  the  survivors,  who  had  lost  about  a  quarter  of  a  million 
sterling,  was  somewhat  alleviated  by  a  subscription  to  relieve  them, 
collected  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  to  the  amount  of  about 
£10.000. 

After  the  peace  of  1815,  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States,  the  Americans  began  to  settle  a  tract  of  land  since  termed 
the  "Disputed  Territory,"  and  lying  between  the  undoubted  jurisdic- 
tions of  Maine  and  New  Brunswick.  This  territory  was  rendered 
debatable  by  the  want  of  precision  in  the  terms  by  which  the  treaty 
of  Paris  in  1783  had  defined  the  northern  boinidary  of  Maine.  Its 
position  in  the  valley  of  the  St.  John  connects  it  most  naturally  with 
the  British  [)rovince  ;  in  1783  the  British  government  settled  a  om- 
|>any  of  Acadians  at  Madawasca;  and  indeed  the  British  jurisdiclion 
over  it  had  always  been  undoubted,  except  while  it  had  been  in  tlit 
hands  of  the  French. 

The  Americans,  however,  soon  began  to  put  forward  claims  to 
some  of  the  lands  south  of  the  St.  .Folin.  and  then,  going  fuillior, 
even  to  others,  which  reached  the  highlands  limiting  the  valley  of 
the  St.  Lawrence.  The  words  in  the  treaty  on  which  they  relied 
declare  that  the  boundary  of  Nova  Scotia  (then  including  New 
Brunswick)  shall  be  formed  "by  a  line  clrawn  due  north  from  the 
•ource  of  the  St.  Croix  to  the  high  lands  which  divide  those  rivers 
that  empty  theniselvcs  into  the  Uiver  St.  Lawrence,  from   those 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


457 


which  fall  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  to  the  northwesternmost  head  of 
Connecticut  Ilivcr."  Now  these  words  were  probably  agreed  upon 
under  the  impression  that  they  would  secure  to  each  of  the  i)arties 
to  the  treaty,  the  lands  drained  by  all  rivers  whose  mouths  were 
within  their  respective  jurisdictions;  and  without  sufficient  knowl- 
edge of  the  upper  valley  of  the  St.  John,  then  an  unexplored  wilder- 
ness. When,  therefore,  it  'appeared  that  the  Americans  were  about 
to  claim  a  construction  of  the  treaty  which  would  deprive  New 
Brunswick  of  a  part  of  its  territory  so  extensive,  so  valuable  for 
farming  and  lumbering,  in  such  close  geographical  connection  with 
the  rest  of  the  province,  and  so  long  considered  as  belonging  to  it, 
they  telt  entirely  justified  in  preparing  if  necessary  to  upliold  their 
claim  by  any  means  which  might  be  necessary.  The  Americans 
gained  some  advantage  in  a  practical  direction,  however,  by  an 
actual  entry  upon  the  territory  in  dispute,  the  erection  of  Fort  Fair- 
field u[>on  it,  and  by  industrious  explorations  of  its  geology  and 
topography.  An  attempt  had  been  made  to  agree  upon  the  line  by 
a  joint  connuission  under  Jay's  treaty,  but  the  connnissioners  could 
not  conie  to  an  understanding,  further  than  from  the  St.  C'niix  to 
K:ti.  Hill,  nherc  they  therefore  gave  up  the  undertaking.  At  the 
trc  '  .  'Jhent  in  1815,  the  king  of  the  Netherlands  was  agreed 
upt  •  "^  ;  /bitrator  of  the  question,  and  decided  upon  a  line  which 
gave  part  of  the  lands  in  dispute  to  each  party,  the  United  States 
obtaining  about  three-fourths  of  the  whole  area  of  li2,()'2J)  scpiaro 
miles.  Tint  government,  hovvcver,  declined  to  abide  by  the  award, 
and  the  (juestion  remained  an  open  and  vexatioiis  one  until  in  1S1'.2, 
the  increasing  excitement  in  Maine  and  New  Hrunsw  iik  indicated 
the  approach  of  a  border  war.  Lord  Ashburton  was  now  sent  over 
with  full  powers  to  agree  upon  the  boundary;  and  in  conjunction 
with  Daniel  Webster,  then  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States, 
he  agreed  on  a  line  not  very  ditl'erent  from  that  fixed  by  the  king  of 
the  Netherlands,  and  giving  the  United  States  about  seven-tw.-jftlis 
of  the  lands  in  (juestion,  being  about  1)00  s(piare  miles  less  than  by 
the  Ibrmcr  decision.  This  result  has  rather  been  ac(]uiescpd  in  by 
New  Brunswick,  than  received  with  satisfaction  ;  as  it  was  felt  that 
territory  had  been  given  up  which  justly  belonged  to  the  provinces 
both  on  political  and  geogrui)hical  principles;  that  by  ceding  the 
Madawasca  settlements  to  the  United  States,  the  British  government 
had  changed  the  citizenship  of  the  inhabitants;  ami  that  the  posses- 
sion of  the  upper  valley  of  the  St.  John  allbrded  n  road  into  the 


458 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


I 


very  heart  of  the  province  which  ought  not  to  be  held  by  a  foreign 
power. 

The  visit  of  His  Royal  Highness,  Albert  Edward,  Prince  of  Wales, 
to  New  Brunswick,  during  his  progress  through  the  British  North 
American  colonies  and  the  United  States,  was  an  occasion  of  much 
loyal  and  patriotic  rejoicing.  The  Prince,  after  visiting  Newfound- 
land and  Nova  Scotia,  reached  St.  John  by  the  steamer  Styx,  froia 
Windsor,  N.  S.,  August  3d,  1800.  Here  he  was  received  by  Gov- 
ernor Sutton,  with  a  royal  salute,  and  a  graceful  and  appropriate 
address,  and  escorted  for  a  mile  to  the  residence  of  the  late  Mr.  Chip- 
man,  selected  for  his  lodgings,  through  streets  lined  with  double  ranks 
of  enthusiastic  but  orderly  citizens,  who,  as  the  carriage  jiasscd,  fell 
into  line  behind  it,  forming  an  immense  guard  of  honor.  Triumphal 
arches,  waving  flags  and  playing  fountains  adorned  the  streets,  and 
the  bells  were  ringing  out  a  welcome.  Within  the  spacious  grounds 
of  the  house,  two  thousand  school  children,  the  boys  all  in  black, 
the  girls  all  in  white,  were  ranged  in  order,  and  as  the  Prince  drew 
near  they  greeted  him  with  the  National  Anthem,  and  by  throw- 
ing flowers  before  him.  During  the  levee  at  the  Court  House, 
the  city  was  splendidly  illuminated  with  lamps  and  transparencies; 
all  the  streets  were  ornamented  to  prepare  for  the  Prmce's  passage, 
by  arches,  flags  and  fountains;  and  when  he  crossed  the  river  and 
visited  Carleton,  the  fire  companies,  in  their  loyal  zeal,  unharnessed 
the  horses,  and  themselves  drew  his  carriage  in  triumph  through  the 
streets. 

From  St.  John  the  Prince  ascended  the  river  to  Fredericton, 
greeted  at  every  place  along  the  stream  by  the  ringing  of  bells,  wav- 
ing flags,  and  salutes.  At  the  Capital,  the  joy  and  enthusiasm  of  the 
occasion  were  equal  to  those  at  St.  John  ;  the  city  being  beautifully 
adorned  with  trium[)lial  arches,  flags  and  banners,  the  military  being 
drawn  out  in  honor  of  the  day,  and  addresses  being  oflered  from  the 
various  governmental  departments,  to  all  of  which  his  Royal  High- 
ness rei)lied  in  the  most  obliging  and  appropriate  manner.  A  sspltn- 
did  ball  at  the  Parliament  House  was  given  in  his  honor;  and  durinc; 
his  visit  he  inaugurated  the  new  park,  which  promises  to  be  a  very 
great  addition  to  the  beauty  of  the  city.  The  Prince  lelt  Frederic- 
ton  for  l*rince  Fidward's  Island  on  the  7lh,  gratified  and  ileliglited 
with  the  spontaneous  testirm)nial3  of  aflection  towards  himself,  her 
Majesty  the  Queen,  and  the  Im|)erial  Government,  which  had  been 
so  universally  and  joyfully  displuye  I. 


1    tains  no 

i        The  I 

stream  < 

vated  gi 

«cot,  aiu 

NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


459 


VJ      JbJ>    uitM    u«         Jj       JkJ      wit  X    X    Ji   • 


SURFACE. —  COAST  OP  BAY  OP  PUNDY.  —  MOUNTAINS- — ST. 
JOHN  RIVER.  —  GRAND  FALLS.  —  LOWER  VALLEY: — -WIN- 
TER FLOODS. — ST.  CROIX    RIVER. —  PETICODIAC. 

MIRAMICHI.  —  RESTIOOUCHE. —  LAKES:  —  GRAND 
LAKE.  —  CIIEPUTNECTICOOK  LAKES.  —  INTER- 
NAL NAVIGATION.  —  SOUTHERN  HARBORS. 
—  NORTHEASTERN  COAST.  —  ISLANDS. — 
BAY  OP  PUNDY. — HIGH  TIDES. — 
GEOLOGY.  —  COAL  STRATA. 


All  the  northern  part  of  the  province  has  a  general  slope  toward 
the  northward  and  eastward,  and  most  of  it  is  quite  level,  containing 
scarcelv  any  hills,  and  diversified  by  many  marshes  and  peat  bogs, 
and  much  meadow  land.  A  large  part  of  this  region  is  excellently 
adaj)ted  for  cultivation,  though  some  portions  of  it,  besides  the 
marshy  part,  are  too  light  and  sandy.  This  level  region  extends 
quite  across  the  province,  from  Bay  Chaleur  to  the  River  St.  John, 
and  it  is  underlaid  by  the  strata  of  the  great  coal  field  of  New  Bruns- 
wick, some  1*2,500  miles  in  extent,  whose  mines  are  practically  inex- 
haustible. Along  the  southern  shore,  next  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  extends 
a  belt  of  land  some  thirty  miles  wide,  very  rough  and  rocky,  full  of 
steep  hills  and  abrupt  ravines,  and  containing  many  tracts  of  bare 
rock  or  peat  bog.  It  is  well  watered  by  numerous  small  and  rapid 
streams,  and  contains  many  rich  tracts  of  intervale  or  meadow  land, 
although  its  principal  value  at  j)rescnt  is  as  forest. 

Across  the  northern  part  of  the  province  runs  a  chain  of  moun- 
tains, not  very  high,  but  steep  and  bold  in  outline,  rocky  and  wild, 
and  containing  nmch  fine  scenery.  Another  range  of  lower  hills 
crosses  the  southwestern  part  of  the  j)rovince,  from  the  St.  ('roix 
river  to  beyond  the  St.  John.  The  highest  peaks  of  the  northern 
range  are  over  2,000  feet  high;  but  except  these,  the  province  con- 
tains no  eminences  of  more  than  about  KOO  or  1,000  feet. 

The  principal  river  of  New  Brunswick  is  the  St.  John,  a  noble 
stream  of  five  hundred  miles  in  length,  which  ri.ses  in  the  same  ele- 
vated group  of  hills  and  mountains  with  the  Connecticut  and  I'enob- 
scot.  and  not  far  from  their  sources.     Its  course  describes  a  [lorlion 


1 1 


'\1 


460 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


I 


of  a  great  circle,  running  northwardly,  and  gradually  sweeping  round 
until  before  entering  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  it  takes  a  southwestern 
course.  This  magnificent  river  with  its  tributaries  drains  an  exten- 
sive territory ;  and  from  its  source  to  its  mouth  it  is  bordered  with 
much  fertile  land  and  much  wild  and  beautiful  scenery.  Two  hund- 
red miles  from  its  mouth  are  the  Grand  Falls,  above  which  the  only 
navigation  is  by  canoes,  boats,  or  timber  rafts.  Just  above  these 
falls  the  river  expands  into  a  wide  basin,  a  safe  and  commodious  har- 
bor for  lumber ;  but  at  the  lower  side  of  this,  the  stream  turns  sud- 
denly, and  is  compressed  within  a  narrow  gorge  only  250  feet  acru.ss, 
a.id  walled  with  perpendicular  precipices  from  100  to  200  feet  high. 
At  the  entrance  to  this  gorge  |he  river  plunges  down  a  single  leap 
of  58  feet,  forming  a  cataract  scarcely  surpassed  in  magnificence  by 
any  in  America,  except  Niagara.  Below  this  fall,  the  stream  plunges 
furiously  down  a  narrow  rocky  chasm,  descending  within  a  short 
space  another  58  feet,  before  reaching  another  basin  at  the  foot  of 
the  fall.  The  passage  of  timber  down  this  fall  is  a  striking  and  ex- 
citing scene.  Vast  pine  logs,  diving  headlong  down  the  upper  fall, 
shoot  swiftly  down  the  rapid  below,  plunging  hither  and  thither, 
sometimes  leaping  their  whole  length  out  of  the  water,  sometimes 
caught  by  scores  in  some  inaccessible  eddy  under  the  precipitous 
bank,  and  whirled  round  and  round  until  split  or  ground  quite  to 
pieces  against  each  other  or  the  sharp  rocks. 

Between  the  Great  Falls  and  Fredericton  are  several  other  dan- 
gerous falls  and  rapids.  From  Fredericton,  130  miles  below  the 
Great  Falls,  the  St.  John  is  navigable  for  ships  down  to  the  sea,  85 
miles.  Through  all  its  lower  course,  the  river  Hows  with  a  broad 
and  calm  current  of  from  one  to  three  miles  wide,  almost  resemhlins 
a  great  lake.  Its  tide  rises  but  little,  usually  but  about  fifteen  inches, 
and  it  expands  info  many  bays  and  inlets.  This  part  of  the  river's 
valley  is  a  broad  and  fertile  tract  of  intervale  and  upland,  containing 
much  fertile  cultivalcd  ground,  and  many  flourishing  settlements. 
During  the  summer,  the  broad  surface  of  the  river  is  thickly  dotted 
with  canoes  and  boats,  with  here  and  there  a  steamboat  or  a  great 
raft  of  timber  from  the  forests  of  the  upper  countiy.  In  the  winter, 
it  becomes  a  wide  and  level  path  of  snow,  furnishing  a  convenient 
and  much  used  road  for  sleighing  and  sledding.  The  strangest  of  its 
a[)pearanccs,  however,  is  that  which  it  presents  during  the  great 
spring  freshets,  when  its  swollen  waters  cover  all  the  lowlandn,  some- 
times swce])ing  oil'  houses,  barns,  haystacks,  cattle,  and  even  human 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


4G1 


beings.  At  such  times,  particularly  if,  as  sometimes  happens,  an 
"ice-jam"  below  dams  up  the  water,  the  inhabitants  either  remove 
to  higher  groiuid  or  into  the  upper  stories  of  their  houses ;  all  com- 
munication must  be  by  means  of  boats,  and  the  wide  expanse  of  the 
river  valley  becomes  a  great  lake,  dotted  here  and  there  with  a  tree, 
a  haystack,  or  a  house,  amongst  which  steamboats  and  sail  vessels 
are  gliding  to  and  fro.  This  alternation  of  dry  land  and  water  ena- 
bles some  of  the  farmers  on  the  river  to  gather  two  very  dissimilar 
crops  a  year;  one  of  herrings,  caught  above  their  flooded  farms  in 
spring,  and  a  second  of  grain  or  vegetables,  planted  after  the  water 
has  fallen.  The  mouth  of  the  river  is  not  less  interesting  in  its  form- 
ation and  phenomena  'an  its  remaining  portions.  For  the  lower 
four  miles  of  iti  m\^.  'e  stream,  hitherto  ■  ..le,  is  compressed 
within  a  crooked  and  contracted  channel  of  only  250  feet  in  width, 
which  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  result  of  a  comparatively  modern 
convulsion  of  the  earth.  At  the  outlet,  the  river  rushes  at  low  water 
with  great  fury  through  a  narrow  passage  between  perpendicular 
walls  of  limestone,  and  over  a  channel  studded  with  rocks,  down  a 
descent  of  20  feet.  But  at  high  tide  this  fall  is  reversed,  the  tre- 
mendous rise  of  high  water  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy  coming  so  far 
above  the  river  level  as  to  pour  the  waters  of  the  bay  through  the 
narrow  channel  with  an  inward  fall  of  15  feet.  Through  tiiis  pas- 
sage vessels  can  pass  in  and  out  only  during  about  three  quarters 
of  an  hour  each  tide,  while  the  sea  and  the  river  are  at  the  same 
level. 

The  chief  tributaries  of  the  St.  John  are,  above  the  Grand  Falls, 
the  Grand  River,  Green  River,  St.  Francis  and  Madawaska ;  and 
below  it,  the  Aroostook  and  the  Tobique ;  besides  many  other 
smaller  streams. 

The  St.  Croix,  the  other  chief  river  of  the  south  of  New  Bruns- 
wick, is  a  large  and  picturesque  stream,  which  rises  in  the  swampy 
lands  of  the  interior,  pursues  a  very  irregular  and  crooked  channel, 
and  reaches  the  sea  at  the  western  limit  of  the  province,  which  it 
divides  for  some  distance  from  the  United  States.  A  fall  about  sev- 
enteen miles  from  its  mouth  prevents  the  further  ascent  of  largo 
vessels. 

The  Peticodiac,  a  strean.  of  about  sixty  miles  long,  whose  mouth 
is  near  the  upper  end  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  is  remarkable  for  the  fury 
and  speed  of  the  tides  at  its  mouth,  which  at  sj)ring-tide  rush  into  the 
mouth  of  the  river  in  a  steep  wave  or  wall  of  water  five  or  six  feet 


462 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


high,  and  with  a  noise  like  thunder.  This  is  the  same  phenomenon 
which  is  seen  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ganges,  and  which  is  there  called 
the  "bore."  Vessels  navigating  the  Peticodiac,  if  unskillfully  hand- 
led, are  liable  to  be  stranded  on  the  extensive  flats  or  quicksands 
near  its  mouth,  and  capsized,  filled  with  sand,  and  sunk,  by  the  fury 
of  the  current. 

The  Miramichi,  which,  except  the  St.  John,  is  the  largest  river  of 
New  Brunswick,  is  about  200  miles  in  length.  Its  general  course 
is  northeast,  and  it  empties  into  Miramichi  Bay,  an  inlet  from  the 
Guli"  of  St.  Lawrence.  Its  tributaries  drain  large  tracts  of  val- 
uable timber  land,  and  alorig  its  lower  course  are  many  prosperous 
settlements. 

The  remaining  large  river  of  New  Brunswick  is  the  Restigouche, 
a  stream  of  nearly  200  miles  in  length,  and  navigable  for  boats  and 
timber  rafts  for  170  miles.  It  rises  in  the  mountains  of  the  district 
of  Gaspd,  and  with  its  branches  drains  the  mountainous  northern 
region  of  the  province,  emptying  into  the  head  of  Bay  Cha'curs. 

The  whole  territory  of  the  province  is  also  watered  by  innumei-a- 
ble  smaller  rivers  and  streams,  some  of  them  branches  of  the  large 
ones,  and  others  discharging  into  the  Bay  of  Fundy  or  the  Gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence. 

The  lakes  are  a  feature  of  the  country  scarcely  less  remarkable 
than  its  rivers.  They  are  quite  too  numerous  for  an  enumeration. 
They  are  mostly  at  the  heads  of  streams ;  though  sometimes  singly 
or  in  chains  along  the  course  of  a  river.  One  of  the  most  important 
of  them  is  Grand  Lake,  about  45  miles  up  the  St.  John,  separated 
from  it  by  a  belt  of  intervale  about  a  mile  wide,  and  receiving  at  its 
upper  extremity  the  Salmon  River.  Like  all  the  tributary  lakes  and 
streams  of  the  St,  John  below  Fredericton,  it  rises  and  falls  with  the 
tide,  though  only  about  six  inches.  It  is  thirty  miles  long,  and  fio'ii 
three  to  six  miles  wide;  is  navigable  throughout,  and  connected  v  'h 
the  St.  John  by  a  deep  and  narrow  channel  called  the  Gemsec.  A 
little  further  down  the  St.  John  is  another  lake,  called  Washadanioak, 
a  narrow  body  of  water  some  thirty  miles  in  length.  On  the  Clie- 
putnecticook,  a  branch  of  tlsc  St.  Croix,  is  a  long,  irregular  lake,  ot 
rather  a  chain  of  lakes,  of  the  same  name  as  the  river,  forty-five 
miles  long,  consisting  of  ii  string  of  narrow  channels  antl  wide  bays 
of  the  most  irregular  figures,  and  running  up  into  the  land  in  various 
directions  in  deep,  narrow  inlets  and  creeks.  The  scenery  of  these 
lakes  is  very  beautiful ;  their  banks  are  steep  and  bold,  the  water 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


463 


clear  and  deep ;  they  are  navigable  for  vessels  of  considerable  size, 
and  the  views  upon  them  strikingly  diversified  with  large  white 
granite  boulders  rising  above  the  water,  or  standing  along  the  shore 
almost  as  regularly  as  walls  of  white  masonry.  There  are  also  many 
beautifully  wooded  and  picturesque  islands. 

The  numerous  lakes  and  rivers  of  New  Brunswick  constitute  an 
extensive  system  of  internal  navigation.  With  their  light  birch-bark 
canoes,  the  Indians  were  accustomed  to  penetrate  every  part  of  the 
country  with  surprising  speed,  by  following  one  river  or  lake  to  a 
point  nearest  another,  making  a  portage  across,  and  carrying  the 
canoe,  then  launching  it  again,  and  so  on.  So  thoroughly  distributed 
are  these  water-courses,  that  not  only  is  there  a  river  in  every  town- 
ship, but  it  is  said  that  no  space  of  half  a  square  mile  in  extent  can 
be  found  without  some  smaller  stream.  Highlands  and  lowlands 
alike  are  also  abundantly  supplied  with  springs. 

The  southern  coast  is  bold  and  rocky,  but  contains  many  deep 
and  safe  harbors,  capable  of  accommodating  the  largest  vessels. 
Among  these  are,  the  mouth  of  St.  Croix  River,  Chamcook  Bay, 
L'Etang,  Beaver  Harbor,  St.  John,  the  Dipper  Harbors,  Musquash 
Harbor,  and  the  mouths  of  the  Peticodiac  and  Memramcook  rivers. 
Safe  shelter  for  vessels  is  also  found  among  the  numerous  islands  of 
Passamaquoddy  Bay. 

The  low  and  sandy  character  of  the  northeastern  coast,  its  shallow 
waters,  and  the  numerous  shoals  and  sand  banks  thrown  up  along  the 
coast  by  the  action  of  the  sea,  render  a  large  part  of  it  much  less 
accessible  to  shipping.  Small  vessels,  however,  can  navigate  the 
lagoons  or  channels  between  these  sand  barks  on  the  coast,  and 
larger  ones  can  find  shelter  in  a  sufficient  number  of  good  harbors 
at  different  points.  Among  these  are  Bay  Vcrte,  Shediac,  Cocagnc, 
Buctouche,  Richibucto,  Miramichi,  Taboosintac,  Tracadic,  Pock- 
mouche,  Shippcgan,  Caraquette,  Bathurst,  and  the  harbor  of 
Chaleurs.  Of  these,  Shediac,  Miramichi  and  Shippcgnn  are  the 
best ;  and  besides  them  all,  the  whole  of  Bay  Chaleurs,  eighty  miles  long 
and  twenty  wide,  may  be  considered  as  one  great  haven  for  shipping. 

The  most  important  of  the  islands  on  the  coast  of  New  Brunswick 
are,  Shippegan,  Miscou  and  Poksudie,  at  the  angle  between  Bay 
Chaleurs  and  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  in  the  no:th  ;  and  the  islands 
of  Passamaquoddy  Bay  on  the  south,  the  principal  of  which  are 
Canipo  Bello,  Deer  Island,  and  the  Grand  Manan,  the  latter  twenty- 
five  miles  long  by  five  wide. 
Vol.  IV.— 58. 


464 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


The  Bay  of  Fundy  is  a  peculiar  and  strongly  characteristic  sheet 
of  water,  bordered  on  both  sides  by  abrupt,  rt)cky  sides,  and  divided 
at  the  upper  extremity  into  two  arms  or  bays,  Chiegnecto  Bay  and 
the  Basin  of  Minas.  It  is  by  some  geologists  supposed  to  have  been 
gradually  scooped  out  by  the  action  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  until  the 
waters  found  themselves  restrained  by  the  iron  barriers  of  primitive 
'ock  which  form  its  shores.  The  most  celebrated  phenomenon  of  the 
liny  is  its  remarkably  high  tides,  which  reach  a  perpendicular  hight 
from  low-water  mark  of  sixty,  seventy,  and  occasionally  of  even 
ninety  feet,  spreading  as  they  rise  over  the  extensive  mud  flats  of  the 
upper  part  of  the  bay  with  a  speed  far  beyond  that  of  man  or  beast, 
and  sweeping  oil'  any  living  thing  caught  within  the  rush  of  their 
waters.  JSwine  often  range  over  the  flats  and  shores  below  high- 
water  mark,  in  search  of  shell -fish,  which  they  devour  greedily.  Their 
instincts  warn  them  in  some  way  of  the  turn  of  the  tide,  which  comes 
rushing  up  in  a  great  wave  almost  like  a  wall  of  water  six  feet  high ; 
and  just  before  that  moment  the  sagacious  beasts  lift  up  their  heads 
all  at  once,  stop  eating,  snort  and  squeal,  and  set  ofi"  for  the  upland  at 
the  top  of  their  speed.  They  (juite  often,  however,  get  caught  and 
drowned  by  the  furious  tide. 

The  principal  occupations  of  the  people  of  New  Brunswick  arc 
agriculture,  lumbering,  commerce,  fishing  and  mining.  The  geologi- 
cal character  of  the  country,  which  has  much  influence  on  the  em- 
ployment of  the  people,  may  be  stated  as  follows:  Across  the  middle 
of  the  province  extends  a  wide  belt  of  primary  rocks,  a  branch  of  the 
Alleghany  range,  whose  granite,  gneiss  and  mica  slate  formations  lie 
from  southwest  to  northeast,  from  above  Woodstock  on  the  St.  John, 
toward  Bnthurst  on  Bay  Chalcur,  where  it  disappears.  Another 
similar  belt  enters  the  province  near  the  Cheputnecticook  lakes,  run- 
ning parallel  with  the  former  to  a  point  near  the  Bellisle,  in  King's 
county,  where  it  disappears.  These  primary  regions  are  mostly 
stony  or  rocky,  and  too  barren  for  cultivation.  Associated  with 
these  primary  rocks,  are  many  veins  and  beds  of  trap,  felspar, 
basalt,  and  other  volcanic  rocks. 

Nearly  all  the  north  of  New  Brunswick  belongs  to  the  formation 
known  as  the  upper  Silurian,  containing  much  valuable  limestone, 
and  large  beds  of  slates,  clays,  &c.  Much  of  the  soil  of  this  tract 
is  very  strong  and  fertile.  A  similar  belt,  but  of  much  less  fertile 
character,  skirts  the  Bay  of  Fundy. 

Another  important  class  of  the  rocks  of  New  Brunswick  is  that  of 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


4C£ 


the  coal  strata,  consisting  of  various  kinds  of  sandstone.  These  rocks 
underlie  all  that  level  or  undulating  district  along  the  Gulf  shore 
from  Bay  Verte  to  Bay  Chaieurs ;  and  besides  their  great  mineral 
treasures,  they  afford  much  soil  which  is  worked  with  gieat  facility, 
though  sometimes  dry,  light  and  hungry. 

Many  so-called  "tertiary"  deposits  are  found  along  the  li^y  cf 
Fundy,  being  beds  of  marl,  sand,  or  both  together.  Lastly,  along 
the  rivers  are  numerous  alluvial  tracts  of  very  valuable,  rich  and 
deep  land.  At  many  parts  of  the  coast  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  espe- 
cially near  its  head,  are  other  marine  alluvial  deposits,  large  tracts 
of  which  have  been  dyked  to  keep  the  sea  from  them,  and  made  to 
bear  great  crops  of  clover,  wheat,  &c.  Their  fertility  is  very  great, 
and  very  enduring 


CHAPTER    I?. 

FOREST  TIIELS.  —  LUMBERING  BUSINESS.  —  CAMPING  OUT. — 
P  0  U  K  I  N  G  .  — 11 1 V  E  11-  D  R I V I  N  G  — -.C  LIMATE.  —  SEVERITY  LES- 
SENING.—  RAPID  GROWTH  OF  VEGETATION.  —  AGRICUL- 
TURAL VALUE  OF  LAND.  —  CROPS.  —  FRUIT.  —  BERRIES. 
—  BITUMINOUS  COAL.  —  IRON   ORE.  —  PLUMBAGO. — 
GRINDSTONES.  —  OTHER  MINERALS.  —  COM- 
MERCE AND  SHIPPING  MANUFACTURES. 


TiiK  forests  of  New  Brunswick  still  cover  with  a  dense  and  heavy 
growth,  the  largest  part  of  its  surface.  Of  the  trees  which  compose 
them,  the  most  valuable  are  the  white  pine,  often  found  a  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  high,  and  six  feet  across  at  the  base  ;  the  black  .spruce, 
which  is  said  to  constitute  a  third  of  all  the  forests  of  the  province, 
often  growing  to  a  hight  of  seventy  or  eighty  feet,  and  a  diameter 
of  from  eighteen  inches  to  two  feet.  It  is  extensively  used  for  spars, 
and  for  sawed  lumber.  Besides  these  are  the  larch,  sometimes  called 
tamarack  or  hackmatack,  excellent  for  ships' knees  and  planking; 
the  black  birch,  also  used  in  ship-building,  and  almost  indestructible 
under  water;  the  yellow  birch,  much  resembling  it;  white  birch  and 
canoe  birch,  whose  bark  is  used  for  many  pufposes  besides  in  making 
canoes ;  red  and  white  beech ;  sugar  maple ;  several  other  varieties 
of  the  maple;  red  and  white  elm;  hemlock;  butternut;  white  and 


Cz, 


4G6 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


11 


black  ash  ;  wliile  cedar;  basswood ;  white  spruce  ;  balsam  fir;  and 
many  other  less  valuable  species. 

j\ot  less  than  8,000  men  arc  annually  engaged  in  the  lumbering 
business.  The  mode  of  proceeding  is  as  follows:  The  timber  mer- 
chant hires  a  party  of  men,  who  go  into  the  forest  in  the  fall,  taking 
with  them  teams,  provisions,  and  whatever  is  needed  for  a  complete 
outfit.  Having  selected  some  tract  of  forest  where  trees  of  tlie 
proper  size  are  found,  and  where  the  proximity  of  some  stream  will 
enable  them  to  (loat  them  down  to  a  market  in  spring,  they  build  a 
"camp"  or  small  hut  of  logs,  flooring  it  with  poles,  having  a  roof  of 
bark,  and  a  raised  platform  for  a  common  bed,  which  is  usually  made 
of  soft  spruce  twigs.  There  is  a  rude  fireplace,  consisting  of  a  hole 
in  the  ground,  or  a  few  stones,  and  a  hole  in  the  roof  serves  as  a 
chinmey.  Another  imt  is  put  up  for  the  horses  or  oxen,  the  hay 
secured  from  the  weather,  and  three  gangs  organized,  one  to  cut 
down  the  trees,  another  to  hew  them,  and  a  third  to  drag  them  to 
the  next  stream.  One  person  is  appointed  cook,  who  serves  also  as 
a  kind  of  housekeeper,  and  who  is  expected,  along  with  the  teanister, 
to  keep  the  fire  burning  through  the  night. 

The  exposures  and  exertions  of  the  lumbering  business  are  very 
great ;  and  no  class  of  men  can  any  where  be  i'mnd,  more  hardy, 
active,  and  laborious,  than  the  lumberers.  Their  w^ork  is  tVeiiuently 
extremely  dangerous.  In  the  mountainous  parts  of  the  country,  it  is 
often  necessary  to  roll  or  drag  the  logs  to  the  brow  of  some  precipice 
at  the  edge  of  a  river,  and  then  slide  them  down  endways  to  the  ice 
or  the  water.  If  arrested  by  lodging  against  trees  or  rocks,  it  is 
necessary  to  climb  down  and  free  the  logs  by  the  axe  or  le\  cr ;  an 
operation  requiring  great  skill  and  agility,  to  avoid  being  struck  by 
the  heavy  log  when  set  free.  This  method  of  getting  timber  down 
to  the  river  is  termed  "forking." 

About  the  end  of  April,  all  the  streams  are  full  and  ovcrllouinc: 
with  the  melting  of  the  snow  and  ice ;  and  now  commences  the 
"rive.-drivihg,"  which  is  the  most  laborious,  exciting  and  dangerous 
part  of  the  lumberer's  work.  Each  log  must  be  navigated  down 
its  stream  to  the  river,  and  down  the  river  to  the  saw-mill  or  port  ot' 
shipment.  Sometimes  shooting  down  a  rapid  on  a  log,  sometimes 
navigating  a  canoe  or  light  skiflf  amongst  the  most  dangerous  rocks 
and  currents,  sometimes  gliding  quietly  along  on  their  floating  charge, 
they  convoy  the  timber  down  the  stream.  It  very  frequently  h;ipj)ens 
that  at  some  narrow  passage  in  the  river,  an  immense  nuniberof  lugs 


J 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


467 


nn*  (breed  promiscuously  together  in  what  is  called  a  "jam."  When 
this  is  the  case,  the  logs  must  be  loosened  and  set  afloat,  one  hy  one, 
and  the  greatest  strength,  judgment,  and  activity  are  required  in  de- 
taching these  enormous  masses  of  timber,  and  esca[)ing  unhurt  when 
they  begin  to  move ;  as  it  js  often  impossible  to  foresee  whether  each 
log  that  is  set  free  may  not  key  up  all  the  rest,  in  which  event  the 
whole  vast  gathering  springs  loose  in  an  instant,  and  leaps  down 
the  ra])id  again,  the  logs  bounding  and  whirling  like  straws,  and 
not  unlVequently  crushing  the  unlucky  river-driver  amongst  them, 
or  hurling  him  to  certain  death  in  the  furious  whirlpools  of  the 
cataract. 

Like  all  classes  of  persons  who  earn  their  living  by  severe  toil  and 
a  wandering  life,  the  lumberers  very  frequently  expend  the  large 
wages  which  their  occupation  commands  in  uninterrupted  dissipation 
and  riot  as  long  as  the  money  lasts.  They  are  a  genial  though  reck- 
less class  of  men ;  hospitable  and  chatty  ,  and  enterta'ning  stories 
and  songs  and  jokes  are  constantly  relieving  the  intervals  of  their 
violent  labor. 

The  climate  of  New  Brunswick  is  subject  to  very  great  an<'  'apid 
changes  ;  the  thermometer  having  been  known  to  rise  or  f;  vithin 
twenty-four  hours,  in  consequence  of  a  change  of  wit- '.  si.\ty  degrees. 
This  results  from  its  situation  between  the  cold  port  oi.  »f  the  conti- 
nent of  North  America  and  the  warm  waters  and  winds  of  the  sea. 
The  temperature  is  also  quite  diflerent  on  the  coast  and  in  the  inte- 
rior;  ranging  at  St.  John,  on  the  coast,  from  23'^  beio.v  zero  to  88'^ 
above  ;  and  at  Frcdericton,  in  the  interior,  from  35^'  below  to  95*^ 
above.  In  proportion  as  the  country  becomes  more  t  nd  more  opened 
by  clearing,  the  snows  of  winter  will  melt  earlier,  the  summer  be 
lengthened,  and  the  average  temperature  be  raised.  In  the  more 
cultivated  parts  of  the  province,  a  very  sensible  amelioration  in  this 
particular  has  already  been  perceived.  The  severe  cold  of  the  win- 
ter usually  commences  about  the  1st  of  January,  and  lasts  until 
about  the  20tli  of  March.  By  IMay,  ;!.;•  'jplands  may  be  planted; 
the  lowlands,  being  subject  to  overflows,  requiring  a  delay  of  a  month. 
The  severe  season  of  the  winter  is  used  by  the  farmers  in  [treparing 
for  summer,  and  is  a  period  of  much  gaiety  and  anm.«ement.  The 
shortness  of  the  summer  is  co  nj  cnsated  by  the  extraordinary  rapid- 
ity of  vegetation  ;  ninety  days  being  sufficient  for  the  whole  growth 
and  ripening  of  grain,  and  all  the  common  kitchen  vegetables  ma- 
turing in  a  much  shorter  time. 


'1()8 


AMERICA     ILLUSTRATED. 


if' 


The  nirricultural  capabilities  of  New  Brunswick  arc  very  much 
less  (lev,  loped  than  will  hereafter  be  the  case,  when  the  I'orests  shall 
be  exhausted  of  their  lumber,  and  the  population  shall  have  increased. 
It  is  estimated  that  7,500,000  acres  of  land  fit  for  cultivation  is  still 
left  unsold  ;  among  which  is  a  very  large  proportion  of  excellent 
([ualilv.  There  is  a  monthly  sale  of  crown  lands  in  each  county ; 
the  land  is  ollered  at  very  reasonable  terms,  and  various  inducements 
are  hold  out  to  settlers. 

The  soil  of  Xew  Brunswick  yields  larger  crops  of  |)otatoes,  tur- 
ni|ts,  and  other  roots,  than  any  other  part  of  North  America :  and 
its  heavy  yield  of  wheat,  barley,  oaLs,  buckwheat,  rye,  and  Indian 
corn,  proves  its  remarkable  capabilities  as  a  sirain-jiroducing  country. 
With  proper  care  in  storing  the  large  amount  of  foilder  which  the 
long  winter  renders  necessary,  live-stock  of  all  kinds  can  be  ■)!ofit- 
ably  raised,  even  in  the  northernmost  parts  of  the  province. 

Of  cultivatecl  fruits,  there  have  been  successfully  grown,  apjtles, 
pears,  plums,  currants,  gor»seberries,  strawberries  and  cherries.  Na- 
tive varieties,  sometimes  in  excessive  profusion,  are  found  growing 
wild,  of  the  strawberry,  raspberry,  goo.seberry,  blackberry,  whortle- 
berry, and  cherry.  Butternuts,  hazlenuts  and  beechnuts  are  also 
plentiful. 

The  mineral  treasures  of  New  Brunswick,  though  important,  have 
thus  tar  ivmaincd  com|)aratively  untouched,  from  the  heavier  capital 
and  longer  period  re(|uired  to  make  them  profitable,  than  in  the  more 
adventurous  occui)ati«)ns  (»f  hnnbering  and  fishing,  in  which  so  mncli 
of  the  industry  of  the  province  has  been  occupied.  No  adetpiate 
develiipment  of  them  can  be  expected  for  a  considerable  time  ;  as 
the  hnnber  must  first  be  exhausted,  the  country  cleared  and  surveved, 
roads  laid  out,  and  more  capital  accunudated.  The  minerals  of  the 
province  may  thus  be  considered  as  a  deposit  of  wealth  stored  salely 
away  lor  u.se  al  any  |»eno<l  when  necessary.  The  following  enu- 
meration nill  sulllciently  indicate  their  character,  and  the  extent  to 
which  they  have  been  worked. 

Bitunnnous  coal  is  found  in  many  parts  of  the  province,  williiu 
the  vast  area  of  that  co;d-lieM  which  has  alreaciy  been  describt'd. 
The  1  irircst  workings  hitherto  made  of'  this  coal  are  nci'r  (irand 
Lake  in  l^ue.  .I's  county,  where  a  seam  is  ttpeiied  al  about  UO  feet 
frtim  the  surface,  and  a  considerable  (piantify  is  annually  raised.  In 
Albert  «'ounly,  ne.ar  Beticodiac  river,  a  lar'je  deposit  has  been  opened, 
of  a  fat  aiid  very   bituminous  mineral,  bciueen  coal  and  asphaltuni 


NEW    U  HUNS  WICK. 


40U 


in  nature,  which  aflortls  excellent  gas,  and  oils  for  burning,  lubricat- 
ing, Slc.     In  1851,  1,500  tons  ol"  this  mineral  were  raised. 

Various  kinds  of  iron  ore  are  found  in  almost  every  part  of  New 
Brunswick.     At  Woodstock,  where  there  is  an  inexhauslihlL'  bed  of 
hematite,  large   iron-works  are  in  operation.     Other  rich  ores  are 
found  elsewhere,  but  no  other  works  have  yet  been  established.     Of 
ores  of  manganese,  several  sorts  are  found  at  Woodstock  ;  grey  oxide 
has  been  shipped  to  England  from  liathurst,  and  black  oxide  to  the 
United  States  from  (|uaco.     At  the  falls  near  St.  John  is  one  of  the 
largest  beds  ol"  plumbago  in  America,  which  has  been  successfully 
used  for  manufacturing  "IJritish  lustre,"   and   lor  preparing  molds 
for  iron  castings.     In  185I{,  about  00,000  i)ounds  were  exported  from 
it.     Lead  ore  of  good  quality  has  been  I'ound  on  Campo  liello  island, 
in  King's  county,  and  on  the  Tobi(jue  river.     Grey  suli»huret of  cop- 
j)er  exists  in  Charlotte  county,  on  the  shore  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy, 
and  on  the  Nepisitjuit  river  near  liathurst.     At  the  latter  place  an 
attempt  was  maue  to  work  the  deposit,  but  it  was  found  to  be  tot* 
much  scattered.     Excellent  granite  is  plentilul  in  many  parts  of  the 
province,  but  has  hitherto  not  been  worked  except  on  the  St.  John, 
in  King's  county,  where  quarries  have  been  for  some  tinje  opened, 
and  have  furnished  the  materials  i'or  many  of  the  public  and  private 
edifices  of  the  city  of  St.  John.     There  are  lar:^e  deposits  (4"  gypsum 
at  Hillsborough,  near  the   I'eticodiac,  in  St.  .\o\\u  county,  in  King's 
county,  in  Victoria  county,  and  elsewhere.     Large  ([uantities  are 
shipped  to  the  United  States  for  building  and  agricultural  jiurposes. 
Excellent  limestone  is  found  in  nniny  places,  and  nmch  of  it  is  burnc'd 
for  lime.     Oood  marble  is  found  near  St.  John  and  Muscpiash  in  the 
south,  and  on  the  coast  of  Bay  C'haleurs  at  the  north.     I'ine  sand- 
stone, dark  red,  grey,  and  other  kinds,  are  (piarried  and  exported  from 
Albert  county;  blue   (lagstt)nes  are  found   in   the  same  county,  at 
CIrindstono  island,  and  sandstones  of  good  (juality  for  building  are 
also  to  bo  fouiul  on  the  Miramichi,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  coal 
field.     CIrindstonos  are  nnide  at  the  Lsland  in  Albert  county,  which 
is  nanu-d  from  them,  and  at  l\Iiramtchi,  at  i\ew  Bandon  and  Cara- 
(juelte   on   IJay   Chaleurs,  and    in   Westmoreland  county  ;  and   they 
form  an  extensive  and  valuable  article  of  exp-ort.     Oil-stone  i:.  <|uar- 
ried  on  the  t  J  rand  Manan.  and  whetstone  on  a  branch  of  the  Mira- 
michi, and  on  Moosehorn  Brook  in  King's  county.     At  various  other 
places  are  found  roofing  slate,  which  has  been  <piarried  and  used  ; 
iron  pyrites,  from  which  may  l)o  made  copperas  and  alum;  bitumin- 


I 


J 


470 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


ous  shale,  from  which  is  manufactured  naphtha,  kerosene,  and  paraf- 
fine  ;  brick  clay,  potter's  clay,  and  fire  clay.  The  water  of  the  salt 
springs  at  Sussex  Vale  has  J'or  a  long  time  been  evaporated,  and  fur- 
nishes excellent  salt.  Large  tracts  of  peat,  aflbrding  good  fuel,  are 
found  in  various  places,  especially  in  Kent,  Queen's  and  Sunbury 
counties,  and  in  Miraniichi  Bay.  Sulphate  of  barytes,  felspar, 
quartz,  ochres,  jade-stone,  chlorite,  jasper,  soap-stone,  and  many  other 
useful  n)incrals,  have  also  been  found,  in  more  or  less  profusion. 

The  commercial,  manufacturing  and  milling  interests  of  New 
Brunswick  are  important,  prosperous  and  increasing.  The  ships  and 
vessels  built  on  its  coasts  are  highly  esteemed  for  strength,  speed  and 
durability.  Tlie  advantages  of  the  country  for  ship  building  were 
•  very  early  observed  ;  Jonathan  Leavitt  built  a  small  schooner  named 
the  "]Monncguash"  in  the  harbor  of  St.  John,  before  1770,  and  Wil- 
liam Davidson,  the  first  British  settler  on  the  Miraniichi,  built  a  large 
schooner  there,  and  named  it  after  the  |)lace,  in  1773.  From  these 
small  beginnings  the  business  has  grown  to  great  importance,  and  is 
pursued  at  niany  i)laces  on  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  for  ninety  miles  up 
the  St.  Jt)hn,  and  on  its  tributaries,  the  Kennebecasis  and  Grand 
Lake,  and  at  many  places  on  the  (.lulf  coast  and  in  Bay  Chaleurs. 
New  Brunswick  furnishes  all  the  timber  for  all  the  parts  of  the  hulls 
and  spars  of  vessels  of  all  sizes,  except  that  live  oak,  white  oak,  and 
pitch  pine  are  sometimes  imported  from  the  United  States  for  ships 
of  a  very  superior  class.  In  185;),  liJ2  vessels  were  built  in  New 
Brunswick,  of  the  total  capacity  of  71,4*28  tons;  and  in  lb54,  135 
vessels,  in  all  of  1)9,  l'-20  tons. 

A  very  large  number  of  saw-mills,  running  by  water  or  by  steam, 
exists,  and  is  rapidly  increasing.  From  'J3U  in  IH'SH,  the  number  had 
grown  in  1851  to  584,  employing  4,3Uvl  hands;  and  it  has  much  in- 
creased since. 

There  were  in  the  province  in  1851,201  griut-mills,  125  tanneries, 
11  foundries,  52  carding  and  weaving  establishments,  5,475  hand- 
looms,  mostly  weaving  home-made  cloth  for  country  use,  8  breweries, 
and  {){  other  manulacturing  establislimcnts,  giving  occupation  in  ail 
to  about  2,000  persons,  not  including  the  hand-loom  weavers.  'J'lie 
total  value  of  articl  <  manufactured  within  the  province  in  the  same 
yeur,  including  boots  and  shoes,  leather,  candles,  woodiii  ware,  cab- 
inet work,  soap,  hats,  and  iron  castings,  wa.s  stated  at  £2.'t:i,  ilMi. 

The  number  of  tons  (tf  ship[iing  owned  in  the  province  in  1855, 
was  110,151  ,  the  number  of  vessels  that  entered  inwards  at  its  norts 


rz 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


471 


in  the  same  year  was  3,442,  in  all  of  590,'^  67  tons  burthen,  and  of 
those  that  cleared,  3,381,  of  063,981  tons.  The  imports  of  that  year 
reached  a  total  value  of  £1,431,330,  and  the  exports  £82G,3S1.  The 
apparent  balance  thus  left  against  the  province  is  more  than  made 
up  by  the  sale  of  new  ships  clearing  outward,  their  freight,  earnings 
of  provincial  vessels,  and  excess  of  prices  received  for  exports  over 
their  oflicial  estimated  value  when  shipped  ;  so  that  there  is  in  fact  a 
handsome  balance  in  favor  of  the  province. 


FISIIEUIES.  —  FIRST  USE  BY  EUROPEANS. — ENGLISH  ACQUISI- 
TION.—  AMERICAN   INTERFERENCE.  —  FISHING  IN  BAY  OP 

FUNDY. MODE  OF   FISHING. CODFISH. HERRING. 

—  FISHERY  IN  GULF  OF  ST.   LAWRENCE. — SALMON. — 
FRESH  WATER  FISH.  —  ANIMALS.  —  ROADS.  —  FRED- 
ERICTON    DESCRIBED.  —  ST.    JOHN.  —  SETTLE- 
MENT.—  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS.  —  TRADE. — 
OTHER  TOWNS. 

The  fi.'iheries  of  New  Brunswick  are  a  most  important  department 
of  its  industry  ;  the  returns  showing  that  besides  the  large  (juantities 
used  at  home,  and  not  including  much  fresh  fish  and  half-cured  fish 
sent  away  without  being  reported,  there  were  exported  in  1855,  cured 
fish  of  various  kinds,  to  the  amount  of  £  17.193.  The  seas  of  the 
New  IJrunswick  coast  are  remarkably  full  offish  during  the  sumnier, 
Bay  C'haleurs  in  particular,  fairly  swarming  with  them,  insomuch 
that  the  Indians  named  it  ''I'^cketaun  Nemaachu,"  or  "the  Sea  of 
Fish." 

The  cod-fisheries  of  Canseau,  as  well  as  those  of  Newfoundland, 
began  to  be  frcfjucnted  by  Kuropcans  very  soon  after  the  discoveries 
of  Cabot  in  1497,  and  all  nations  indiscriminately  enjoyed  them  until 
Sir  lluujphrey  CJilbert  took  jtossession  of  Newloundland  and  its  fish- 
eries for  Queen  l''Ji/.abeth,  and  until  the  I'ronch,  by  ceding  Nova 
Scotia  in  1749,  and  losing  Cape  IJreton  in  1758,  gave  up  the  fisheries 
dei)endent  upon  those  govennnents.  The  treaty  with  the  United 
Stales  in  1783  granted  their  citizens  unlinnted  right-  of  fishing  in  all 


472 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


i.: 


the  waters  of  the  sea-coast  of  British  America.  These  rights  have 
not  since  been  restricted,  except  by  a  provision  that  the  Americans 
shall  not  fish  within  three  miles  of  the  coast ;  which  provision,  how- 
ever, is  constantly  evaded  ;  and  the  active  rivalry  of  the  Americans, 
and  of  the  French  who  fish  on  the  Grand  Banks,  both  these  nations 
having  great  advantages  over  British  subjects  by  their  system  of 
bounties,  has  been  a  constant  and  serious  injury  to  the  interests  ol 
the  provinces,  whose  situation  both  geographically  and  politically 
should  naturally  give  them  the  exclusive  benefit  of  the  fisheries  at 
least  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy  and  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 

The  fisheries  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy  are  for  cod,  pollock,  hake,  had- 
dock, herring  and  mackerel ;  all  which  are  caught  near  the  Grand 
Manan  and  the  other  islands  near  Passamaquoddy  Bay,  and  thence 
along  the  coast  to  the  River  St.  John,  and  sometimes  further,  ('od, 
pollock,  hake  and  haddock,  are  caught  with  the  hook  and  line,  com- 
monly from  "pink-sterned"  boats,  {i.e.,  boats  sharp  at  each  end.) 
twelve  or  eighteen  feet  long,  rigged  with  one  mast  stepped  well  f((r- 
ward,  and  a  single  sail,  on  a  very  long  boom,  and  running  to  a  point 
at  the  top.  These  boats  are  swift  and  safe  and  will  run  very  near 
the  wind.  In  the  winter,  and  for  the  remoter  fishing  grounds,  small 
schooners  are  used. 

The  codfish  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy  are  of  the  best  quality,  and  of 
large  size.  They  may  be  taken  at  almost  all  times  of  the  vear; 
sometimes  close  in  siiorc,  and  sometimes  in  deep  water.  The  best 
ones  are  caught  in  about  sixty  fathoms,  in  the  end  of  winter  or  l>e- 
ginning  of  spring,  and  are  very  fat  and  thick,  sometimes  weighing  70 
or  HO  pounds,  and  even  more.  They  are  split  and  dried,  or  pickled 
and  sold  by  the  barrel ;   and  sometimes  sent  fresh  to  market. 

Pollock  are  caught  in  July  and  afterwards ;  in  the  previous  part 
of  the  season  they  arc  thin  and  of  little  value.  They  are  lively  and 
sportive,  and  are  best  caught  in  ripples  and  rapid  currents  l>et\veen 
tides  and  amongst  the  islands.  They  are  cured  like  cod.  Hake  are 
a  large  fish,  sometimes  three  feet  long,  and  are  usually  caught  at 
niL'ht,  over  muddy  bottoms.  Their  teeth  are  so  stronir  and  sharp 
that  the  line  has  to  be  armed  with  wire  for  some  inches  above  the 
hook,  as  they  easily  bite  off  "  cod-line.  Hake  are  split  and  dried 
like  cod,  but  retpiire  much  more  salt.  Haddock  are  mostly  eaten 
fresh,  being  too  thin  for  drying. 

Herring  are  caught  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy  during  every  month  in 
the  year ;  a  lact  that  refutes  the  common  belief  of  their  i)erio<iical 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


47a 


migration  from  the  Arctic  Ocean.  They  probably  live  in  deep  water, 
and  come  ashore  to  spawn.  They  are  caught  either  in  nets  or  in 
weirs  of  brush  and  twigs.  Mackerel  are  of  late  years  not  abundant 
in  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  nor  of  very  good  quality.  The  halilnit  is  a 
large  fish  of  a  flat  shape,  much  like  a  flounder,  to  which  species  it 
belongi^.  It  is  often  caught  by  those  fishing  for  cod,  and  grows  to  a 
large  size,  sometimes  weighing  200  pounds  and  more.  Its  llesh  is 
finn  and  white,  and  liked  by  many  persons,  and  is  often  salted  and 
smoked  for  winter  use.  One  of  the  most  excellent  fish  of  the  Bay 
of  Fundy  is  the  "sea-shad,"  which  is  principally  caught  in  the  Cum- 
herlaud  Basin,  by  long  nets,  set  during  the  night.  Its  flesh  is  ex- 
tremely fat  and  savory,  and  it  is  both  eaten  fresh  and  pickled  for 
winter.  This  fishery  employs  more  than  200  boats  and  500  men, 
who  are  computed  to  take  every  year  more  than  four  thousand  bar- 
rels of  these  fish,  worth  about  £5,000. 

Besides  these  fish,  there  are  also  caught  in  the  bay  great  quanti- 
ties of  smelts ;  skate;  tom-cod,  or  frost- fish  ,  many  excellent  eels; 
the  torsk,  or  cusk ;  cunners,  or  sea-perch  ;  and  the  silver  hake. 
There  are  also  caught  lobsters,  clams,  scallops,  periwinkles,  and 
shrimjis. 

Besides  the  boats  owned  by  nearly  all  the  settlers  on  the  shores  of 
the  Bay  <tf  Fundy,  the  inhabitants  of  Grand  Manan,  Campo  Bello, 
and  the  West  Isles,  whose  chief  occupation  is  fishing,  own  and  work 
08  vessels  with  about  500  men,  and  350  boats  with  000  men,  besides 
a  force  of  about  200  men  in  charge  of  the  iierring-weirs. 

The  fishing  in  the  Culf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Bay  Chaleurs  extcnrls 
only  from  April  to  the  end  of  November,  as  the  ice  prohibits  it  dur- 
ing the  rest  of  the  year.  Cod  are  the  fish  principally  caught.  They 
are  found  near  the  shore  in  t!ie  early  part  of  the  season,  and  in 
deeper  water  as  it  advances.  The  boats  used  are  larirer  than  those 
of  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  with  two  masts,  two  fore-and-alt  sails  and  a 
jib,  and  usually  managed  by  two  men,  or  two  men  and  a  li()y.  Fach 
boat  also  has  oars,  a  rope  cable,  nn  anchor,  a  compass  and  a  stove  : 
and  with  outfit,  commoidv  costs  about  £lh.  The  cod  of  Bav  Chaleur 
are  small,  and  very  white  and  dry  ;  and  sell  better  than  any  other  kind 
in  the  Mediterranean  and  in  South  America.  Hake  are  found  in 
the  dull',  and  are  cured  and  ex|u»ited  by  the  name  of  "iin<r."'  Had- 
dock and  halibut  are  also  found  ;  as  is  the  torsk  or  cusk;  but  no  pol- 
lork.  Herrings  are  plentiful  all  aloni:  the  coast,  being  lean  and  poor 
in  sj'ving,  when  they  are  sj>awning,  l)ut  fat  when  they, come  upon  the 


M 


474 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


coast  for  the  second  time,  about  August  20th.  They  are  now  called 
"fall-herrings,"  and  if  properly  cured  are  equal  to  any  in  the  world. 
The  Gulf  abounds  in  mackerel,  which  are,  however,  almost  entirely 
caught  by  the  American  fishermen.  Alewives,  or  gaspereaux,  enter 
all  the  rivers  emptying  into  the  Gulf,  in  the  spring,  and  are  caught  in 
great  numbers,  and  pickled  and  sent  to  the  Southern  United  States 
as  food  for  the  slaves.  Abundance  of  striped  bass  are  taken,  and 
extraordinary  quantities  of  smelts,  besides  salt-water  eels  and  cun- 
ners.  Shad  are  not  abundant,  and  are  poor.  Capelin,  a  snmli  fish 
of  very  delicate  flavor,  are  abundant.  They  are  much  used  as  bait 
for  mackerel  and  cod.  The  shell-fish  of  the  Gulf  include  excellent 
oysters,  lobsters,  which  are  so  abundant  as  sometimes  to  be  used  for 
manure,  clams,  both  large  and  small,  crabs,  periwinkles,  shrimps, 
muscles,  and  "razors,"  a  shell-fish  of  pleasant  flavor,  named  from  the 
resemblance  of  its  shell  to  a  razor. 

Besides  these  marine  fisheries,  the  numerous  lakes  and  streams  of 
New  Brunswick  afford  a  great  variety  of  excellent  fish.  Enormous 
quantities  of  salmon  are  caught  in  the  rivers  of  the  Gulf;  more  than 
400,000  pounds  having  been  exported  from  Miramichi  in  a  single 
season,  in  hermetically  sealed  tin  cases.  Various  other  species  ui' 
fish,  as  the  shad,  gasjiereaux,  striped  bass,  smelt,  silver  eel,  sea  trout 
and  sturgeon,  also  ascend  the  rivers  from  the  sea,  and  are  caught  in 
them.  Of  tho.se  fish  which  remain  constantly  in  fresh  water,  the 
best  is  the  brook  trout,  which  is  found  in  almost  every  lake  and 
stream  ;  the  large  lake  or  grey  trout ;  the  white  bass,  found  in  the 
St.  John  and  other  rivers  emptying  into  the  Bay  of  Fundy  ;  perch, 
roach,  dace,  and  several  other  common  kinds  of  fish;  not  to  mention 
eels,  which  are  almost  as  universal  as  trout. 

The  native  animals  of  New  Brunswick  are,  wolves  and  bears, 
which  are,  however,  now  rapidly  becoming  unknown  except  in  the 
wilder  [tarts  of  the  country  ;  foxes,  weasels,  and  some  other  small 
animals  of  prey  ;  the  moose,  caribou  and  red  deer ;  beaver,  otter, 
mink,  muskrat,  marten,  pine  marten,  lynx,  raccoon,  porcupine,  wo*.h1- 
cliuck,  ermine,  and  hare ;  wild  ducks  and  geese ;  partridges,  .siii|)e, 
and  woodcock  ;  curlew,  plover,  and  occasionally  vast  llncks  of  wild 
pigeons.  The  abundance  and  variety  of  fish  has  already  been  nion- 
tioned ;  besides  which  the  seal  and  the  whale  are  found  in  the  Ciulf 
of  St.  Lawrence,  but  are  little  hunted  by  the  people  of  New  Bruns- 
wick. 'I'he  walrus  also,  formerlv  killed  in  immense  numbers  for  its 
teeth  and  oil,  has  become  comparatively  rare  upon  its  shores. 


J. 


-  ■-.   fM  ^1  If  4J»TPkJWa 


NEW    BRUNSWICK 


4T5 


Many  important  roads  have  been  laid  out  through  the  more  thickly 
settled  portions  of  the  country,  including  the  great  main  road  from 
the  harbor  of  St.  John  up  the  valley  of  the  river  to  Canada  ;  that  from 
Calais  in  the  United  States  to  St.  John,  and  thence  to  the  Peticodiac, 
and  onward  along  the  east  coast  to  the  Restigouche  ;  those  between 
Fredericton  and  the  ports  of  St.  Andrews  and  Mirainichi.  As  fast 
as  the  country  becomes  settled,  it  is  covered  with  a  network  of  con- 
necting roads,  branching  oft'  from  these  chief  ones.  £30,000  a  year 
is  expended  by  government  on  roads  and  bridges,  which  arc  tree 
everywhere,  except  the  wire  suspension  bridge  at  St.  John,  where  a 
toll  is  levied. 

A  railroad  is  in  operation  between  St.  Andrews  and  Woodstock ; 
another  is  constructing,  from  St.  John  to  Shediac  ;  others  are  in  con- 
templation, and  the  system  will  be  put  in  communication  with  the 
United  States  roads  at  Calais.  These  lines  of  road,  besides  aiding 
immensely  in  the  development  of  the  resources  of  the  country,  will 
afford  employment  for  a  considerable  time  to  a  large  number  of 
laborers. 

Fredericton.  the  capital  of  Xew  Brunswick,  stands  on  the  south 
or  right  bank  of  the  St.  John,  in  York  county,  84  miles  iVom  the 
Bay  of  Fundy,  on  a  pleasant,  level  plain.  It  is  laid  out  with  broad 
streets,  on  a  symmetrical  plan,  selected  in  1785  by  Sir  Guy  Carleton. 
and  its  roomy  scale  aflords  s{>ace  for  many  gardens,  which,  with 
ornamental  trees,  render  its  appearance  very  attractive.  It  contains 
the  public  buildings  of  the  government;  a  substantial  stone  building 
for  the  residence  of  the  lieutenant-govern<»r,  and  called  Government 
House  ;  a  Province  Building,  for  the  legislature  and  the  courts  ;  the 
land  ofTicc,  and  other  public  offices.  It  contains,  also,  King's  College, 
a  handsome  <!tone  edifice,  170  by  00  feet ;  and  the  Central  Bank,  with 
a  paid  up  capital  of  CSii.OOO.  It  w  s  incorporated  as  a  city  but  a 
few  years  since.  It  is  very  regularly  and  handsomely  laid  out,  and 
some  of  its  streets  are  a  mile  in  length.  Much  labor  and  expense 
have  been  incurred  in  the  removal  of  obstructions  to  the  navigation 
of  the  St.  John  above  Fredericton,  to  the  great  improvement  of  it. 
Since  1818,  when  it  was  made  a  por^  of  entry,  the  business  of  the 
city  has  much  increased,  and  is  still  increasing.  Its  population  is 
about  5,000. 

St.  John,  the  largest  city  in  the  province,  and  its  business  capital, 
was  first  settled  by  loyalists  from  the  revolted  American  colonies,  in 
1783 ;  was  incorporated  by  royal  charter  in   1785,  and  has  now 


476 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


grown  up  to  a  population  of  about  30,000.  Its  advantages  as  a 
commercial  depot  are  very  great,  as  its  harbor  never  freezes,  and 
vessels  can  enter  and  depart  on  every  day  of  the  year.  The  city  is 
regularly  laid  out,  well  built,  and  strikingly  situated  on  the  bold  slope 
of  the  eastern  bank  of  the  St.  John  river.  In  1837,  1839,  and  1841, 
it  suffered  much  from  severe  fires,  but  is  now  rapidly  improving  by 
the  erection  of  substantial  buildings  of  brick  or  stone,  and  sometimes 
of  iron  and  glass  ;  wooden  ones  having  been  prohibited  by  law  in 
the  business  part  of  the  town.  It  contains  many  handsome  public 
edifices,  among  which  are  the  Episcopal  and  Presbyterian  churches, 
the  Marine  Hospital,  two  fine  buildings  for  barracks,  a  court-house 
of  stone,  prison,  &c.  Among  the  chief  public  institutions  of  St. 
John  are,  a  grammar  school,  the  free  school,  known  as  the  "Central 
Madras  School,"  two  public  libraries,  several  banks  of  discount  and 
issue,  a  savings  bank,  several  insurance  companies,  a  chamber  of 
commerce,  several  charitable  and  religious  societies,  &c.  There  are 
several  newspapers,  of  much  intelligence  and  high  character.  Of 
the  banks,  three  in  number,  two  have  together  a  capital  of  £250,000; 
and  the  third  is  a  branch  of  the  Bank  of  British  North  America,  in 
London,  which  has  a  capital  of  £1,000,000.  The  interesting  facts 
connected  with  the  entrance  to  the  port,  the  tide,  »S:c.,  have  been 
mentioned  in  describing  the  majestic  river  which  forms  the  harbor. 
In  order  to  protect  the  commerce  of  the  city,  a  fine  light-house  has 
been  erected  on  Partridge  Island,  which  commands  the  river's  mouth, 
and  on  which  there  is  also  a  battery ;  the  channel  is  indicated  by  con- 
spicuous sea-marks,  and  a  breakwater,  on  the  east  side  of  the  channel, 
below  the  city,  defends  vessels  from  the  heavy  sea  caused  by  south- 
erly gales.  The  progress  of  the  city  is  being  still  further  promoted 
by  the  system  of  railroads  now  in  jjrocess  of  construction,  between 
it  and  the  eastern  ternunus  of  those  of  the  United  Si;ues  and  the 
Grand  Trunk  road  on  one  hand,  and  Halifax,  Bay  Verte  and  Shodiac 
on  the  other.  It  i.s  alreadv  in  connnunication  with  the  tclctrrapliic 
systems  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  has  kept  up  with  the 
march  of  domestic  as  well  as  commercial  improvement  by  means  of 
companies  which  have  secured  it  the  comforts  of  gas-lii^ht  and  a 
reservoir  which  supplies  the  whole  city  with  water.  Its  I)cauty  is 
also  much  enhanced  by  several  very  handsome  j)ul)lio  sijuares  or 
parks,  tastefully  laid  out  and  well  planted  ;  among  which  the  King's 
Gardens  and  the  Queen's  Gardens  are  much  resorted  to  for  amuse- 
ment and  promenading.     The  municipal  government  of  the  city 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


477 


consists  of  a  mayor,  six  aldermen,  from  as  many  wards,  and  six 
assistant  aldermen.  It  is  connected  with  the  suburb  of  Carleton,  ou 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  by  a  handsome  suspension  bridge,  G80 
feet  in  length ;  a  well-constructed  and  very  graceful  as  well  as  com- 
modious structure. 

St.  John  is  a  remarkably  wealthy  city  for  its  size,  and  a  very  busy 
one.  It  is  the  business  center  of  a  vast  territory,  productive  of  i. 
great  mass  of  mineral,  agricultural  and  other  cojiimercial  values. 
The  lumber  floating  down  the  river  to  St.  John  in  1852,  included 
100,000  tons  sawed  white  pine,  10,000  tons  hackmatack,  50,000,000 
white  j)ine  logs,  20,000,000  spruce  logs,  50,000,000  feet  pine  boards, 
15.000,000  shingles,  5,000,000  clapboards,  to  a  total  value  of  £389,- 
000.  The  imports  for  1851.  amounted  to  £047,333 ;  the  exports  to 
£514,020.  In  1852,  the  whole  number  of  vessels  arriving  was  1,740, 
in  all  of  334,207  tons  burthen;  and  clearing,  I,74G,  of  302,917  tons. 
The  proximity  of  the  lumbering  districts  gives  great  facilities  for 
ship-building;  and  accordingly,  the  number  of  vessels  built  at  St. 
John  in  1851  was  72,  in  all  of  37,007  tons ;  and  in  1852,  87,  of  45,- 
123  tons.  On  Dec.  31,  1851,  518  vessels  were  owned  in  the  city,  of 
94,810  tons.  To  the  total  of  exports  given  above,  ought  in  fact  to 
be  added  £100,000,  for  21,730  tons  shipping  sold  abroad.  The 
extent  of  the  travel  which  centers  at  St.  John  may  be  imagined  from 
the  fact  that  in  1851,  50,000  people  were  carried  by  steamer  on  the 
single  route  from  St.  John  to  Fredericton. 

Of  the  other  towns  in  the  province,  Dalhousie  and  Bathurst  ship 
large  quantities  of  timber ;  Miramichi  and  the  range  of  villages 
along  the  banks  of  its  river  are  prospering  on  the  lumber  and  fishing 
business;  Shediac  possesses  a  growing  trade;  Monckton  is  growing 
rapidly  by  means  of  its  railroad  connections ;  St.  Andrews  and 
Woodstock  have  nmch  transportation  and  agricultural  business  ;  and 
many  other  towns  and  villages  are  springing  up  and  increasing  in 
every  part  of  the  country. 


i 


478 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


CHAP  TEH    ?L 


RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS.  —  SCHOOLS  AND  COLLEGES. — 
POPULATION. —  ACADIAN  FRENCH.  —  MICMAC8.  —  MELI- 
CETES. —  NEGROES. —  CHARACTER  OF  PEOPLE. —  HOSPI- 
TALITY.—  SOCIAL    PLEASURES.  —  POPULATION. — 
GOVERNMENT.  —  COURTS,  THEIR  CONSTITUTION 
AND  SESSIONS.  —  LIST  OF  GOVERNORS  AND 
THEIR  ACCESSION.  —  SUMMARY  OF  CON- 
'^  DITION  OF  PROVINCE.  —  FINAL 

STATISTICS. 


The  moral,  religious  and  educational  condition  of  New  Brunswick 
is  good.  It  contains  in  all,  about  425  places  of  worship,  and  about 
half  as  many  clergymen,  of  all  denominations  ;  the  strongest  being 
the  Church  of  England,  the  Baptists,  the  Wesleyan  Methodists,  and 
the  Roman  Catholics,  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  named.  There 
are  no  tithes  nor  compulsory  taxes  for  religious  purposes,  the  volun- 
tary principle  being  universal. 

New  Brunswick  appropriates  the  very  handsome  amount  of  £l2,- 
000  a  year  to  educational  purposes.  The  educational  institutions  of 
the  province  consist  of  King's  College  at  Fredericton,  chartered  in 
1823,  a  grammar  school  in  each  county,  a  Baptist  seminary  at  Fred- 
ericton, a  Methodist  academy  at  Sackville  in  Westmoreland  county, 
several  free  schools  for  the  poor  under  a  corporation  called  "The 
Governor  and  Trustees  of  the  Madras  School,"  and  the  system  of 
common  or  parish  schools.  These  last  exist  in  nearly  every  town, 
vili;ige  and  settlement,  and  are  so  organized  as  to  afiord  a  respectable 
English  education  to  all.  These  schools  are  under  the  management 
of  a  Provincial  Board  of  Education,  consisting  of  the  Lieutenant 
Governor,  the  executive  Council,  and  the  Superintendent  of  Schools. 
The  latter  oflicer  is  appointed  by  the  governor,  and  is  secretary  to 
the  Board,  which  appoints  an  inspector  for  each  county.  There  i.s  a 
model  school  and  a  training  school  for  teachers,  who  are  examineil, 
trained,  and  licensed  under  the  authority  of  the  Board.  There  arc 
also  four  Roman  Catholic  schools,  an  academy  at  St.  Stephen,  a.i 
infant  school  at  Fredericton,  and  an  African  school  and  a  commer- 
cial school  at  St.  John,  all  receiving  aid  from  government. 


NEW     U  R  U  N  S  W  1  C  K . 


479 


The  population  of  New  Brunswick,  besides  the  Er.gHsh  inhabit- 
ants, includes  French,  Indians,  and  a  lew  negroes. 

The  French  occupy  tiir  borders  of  the  great  marshes  or  "salt 
meadows"  of  Westmoreland  county,  various  settlements  aiona  the 
coast  from  Bay  A'erte  to  the  llestigouche,  and  there  is  an  isolated 
settlement  of  them  at  Madawasca.  Their  religion  is  Roman  Cath- 
olic, and  their  language  a  corrupt  patois  or  dialect  of  the  French, 
though  they  readily  understand  the  pure  French  of  Paris.  They  are 
strongly  attached  to  their  hereditary  manners,  costumes  and  religion, 
and  are  still,  as  they  have  always  been,  a  moral,  peaceful,  industrious, 
frugal,  gay,  and  social  people.  They  are  exceedingly  fond  of  music 
and  dancing,  and  make  great  merriment  it  weddings,  and  on  Sun- 
days, which  are  with  them  days  of  amusement  and  festivity,  after 
the  celebration  of  divine  worship.  They  are  polite  and  quite  grace- 
ful in  manners,  hospitable  and  generous,  though  not  remarkable  for 
enterprise  ;  and  they  still  adhere  to  the  ancient  and  incommodious 
habits  of  their  ancestors,  in  building,  modes  of  cultivation,  tools,  4ic. 

The  Indians  are  the  relics  of  two  distinct  tribes,  the  Micinacs  and 
the  Melicetes.  The  former  occupied  the  northern  and  eastern  coasts, 
and  are  formed  of  the  ocean  and  its  neighborhood,  being  called  by 
the  Melicetes  "salt-water  Indians."  The  Melicetes  are  mostly  estab- 
lished in  the  valley  of  the  St.  John,  and  thence  westward.  They 
.speak  a  Delaware  dialect,  while  that  of  the  Micniacs  is  Iroquois. 
The  general  character  and  habits  of  these  tribes  are  similar  to  those 
of  the  other  Indians  of  i\orth  America.  Both  tribes  were  brave  and 
active  warriors,  the  Micmacs  in  particular  being  often  men  of  sur- 
prising siz?,  strength  and  quickness.  Tiiey  were  for  a  very  long 
time  the  faithful  allies  of  llie  French,  and  did  not  transfer  their  alle- 
giance to  the  English  crown  until  alter  the  Cauadas  and  Acadia  were 
hopelessly  lost  to  France.  Like  nearly  all  the  other  Indian  tribes, 
the  most  persevering  etlorts  to  habituate  them  to  civilized  feelings 
and  modes  of  life  have  almost  entirely  failed  ;  and  they  are  now 
steadily  decreasing  in  number,  both  tribes,  formerly  counting  Jrom 
G.OOO  to  8,000  souls,  not  now  including  1,000  persi)ns.  The  Meli- 
cetes are  still  bold,  active  and  skillful  hunters  and  woodsmen,  and 
the  Micmacs  often  good  fishermen.  They  are  sometimes  employed 
as  lumberers,  and  olten  as  guides  or  assistants  to  travelers  or  sfjorts- 
men  ;  employments  of  which  they  are  very  fond,  and  in  which  ihey 
are  faithful  and  cHicieut. 

During  the  last  war  with  Amei'ica,  a  number  of  negroes  were 
Vol.  IV.— 5U. 


480 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


brought  by  tlie  British  forces  from  the  Southern  Stnies  and  estab- 
lished in  the  province.  They  have,  liowever,  "Iv  '.lyt*  been  idle, 
thriftless  and  vicious,  and  an  inconvenience  and  bun.'  to  ^Le  r.eigli- 
borhood  where  they  live,  on  whom  falls  most  of  the  expense  of  their 
support.  The  greater  part  of  them  are  near  St.  John.  Many  of 
them  find  employment  as  servants  in  white  families. 

The  main  body  of  the  settlers  in  New  Brunswick,  however,  con- 
sists of  English,  Irish,  Scotch  and  Welsh  emigrants  or  their  descend- 
ants, and  of  the  descendants  of  the  loyalists  who  took  refuge  in  this 
country  from  the  dangers  to  which  their  principles  exposed  them  in 
the  war  of  the  American  Revolution. 

The  inhabitants  of  New  Brunswick  are,  as  a  race,  tall,  well-formed 
and  handsome,  seldom  beconjing  corpulent.  Tiiey  are  enterprising 
and  active  in  disposition,  frank  and  liearty  in  manners,  industrious, 
kind,  humane  and  generous  ;  and  as  a  class,  are  in  remarkably  inde- 
pendent and  comfortable  circumstances.  They  usually  live  in  great 
abundance,  and  while  their  manners  have  not  the  artificial  elegance 
of  cities,  their  hospitality  is  frankly  and  heartily  bestowed  upon 
strangers  who  seem  to  deserve  it.  Indeed,  a  traveler  in  the  province 
has  said  that  "any  person  of  respectable  address  and  appearance, 
who  can  tell  a  good  story,  sing  a  good  song,  and  play  the  fiddle,  can 
travel  through  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick  free  of  expense." 
They  are  free  and  plain  in  expressing  their  opinions,  and  loyally  at- 
tached to  the  English  crown,  while  they  feel  a  lively  interest  in  the 
prosperity  and  privileges  of  their  native  province.  Their  fondness 
for  society  and  social  amusements  is  especially  indulged  in  the  win- 
ter, which  is  the  season  chosen  for  visiting,  balls,  sleigh  rides,  parties, 
and  pleasure  of  all  kinds.  It  is  also  eminently  the  season  for  polite 
attentions  to  the  fair  sex,  and  is  usually  selected  for  courtship.  In 
Fredericton  and  St.  Johns,  there  is  much  very  good  society,  much 
gaiety  arising  from  the  usual  presence  of  oflicers  and  soldiers,  and 
at  the  fui'iner  place  of  the  government ;  and  also,  a  very  perceptible 
tinge  of  aristocratic  feeling  in  some  circles. 

The  total  population  of  New  Brunswick  was  at  various  periods  as 
follows:  in  1824,  74,170;  in  1834,  119,457;  in  1840,  154,000;  n\ 
1851,  103,800;  in  1857,  210,000;  and  is  now  estimated  at  220,000. 

The  government  of  New  Brunswick  is  administered  by  an  execu- 
tive ollicer  with  the  title  of  Lieutenant-governor,  who  has  an  exec- 
utive council  of  nine,  ap[)oiiited,  like  himself,  by  the  crown.  The 
legislature  consists  of  two  houses,  the  upper  of  twenty-one  mem- 


NEW     BRUNSWICK.  ^gj 

bers,  appointed  by  the  crown  and  holding  office  at  its  i)lca.sure,  and 
the  lower  of  forty -one  members,  elected  every  four  years  by  the 
people. 

Tlie  courts  are,  a  supreme  court,  composed  of  a  chief  justice  and 
four  assistants ;  a  court  of  vice-admiralty,  for  maritime  and  prize 
cases ;  a  court  of  piracy,  composed  of  the  lieutenant-governor,  su- 
preme court,  executive  council,  vice-admiralty  judge,  and  proTincial 
secretary  and  treasurer,  with  any  flag-oflicers,  captains  or  command- 
ers on  the  station ;  a  probate  court  in  each  county,  whose  judge  or 
"suriijgate"  is  appointed  by  the  lieutenant-governor;  a  court  of  di- 
vorce, consisting  of  the  governor,  council,  and  one  or  more  of  the 
supreme  court  judges  ;  courts  of  conimon  pleas  and  general  sessions, 
held  four  times  a  year  in  each  county ;  and  justice's  courts,  held  by 
justices  of  the  peace,  whenever  required,  at  their  own  residences. 

Tlie  following  is  a  list  of  the  governors  or  acting  governors  of 
New  Brunswick,  with  their  titles  and  the  dates  of  their  assumption 
of  office  : — 

Sir  Guy  Carleton, Capt.  General  ami  Gov.  in  ch.    Aug.  IG.  1781. 

"      "          "         Lieut.  Governor,  Oct.  30,1786. 

G.  G.  Ludlow,  Esq., Pres'tof  Council  «feCoin.-in-ch.  Oct.     5,1803. 

E.  Winslow,  Esq., same,  Feb.  20, 1808. 

Maj.  Gen.  M.  Hunter, same,  May  24, 1808. 

Lt.  Col.  G.  Johnstone, s:unc,  Deo.  17, 1808. 

Maj.  Gon.  Hunter, wine,  Apr.  28, 1809. 

Maj.  Gin.  VV.   Halfour, ^me,  Sept.  11, 1811. 

Maj.  Gen.  Hunter, Fame,  Nov.  14, 1811. 

Maj.  Gon.  Sir  G.  S.  Smyth, Pres't  and  Coni.-in-ehief,  June  ir>,  1812. 

Maj.  Gen. Sir  T.  Sauniarez, same,  Aug.  17, 1813. 

Maj.  Gen.  Smyth, fame,  Aug.  14, 1814. 

Lt.  Col.  n.  W.  HaiUvs, fame,  June  25, 1816. 

Maj.  Gen.  Smyth, Lt.  Gov.  and  Com.-in-chief,  July     1 ,  1817. 

W.  Chipman,  Esq., President         "            "  April  l,ls23. 

J.  M.  Bliss,  Euq,, '•  "            "  Feb.  21,1824. 

Maj.Gen.Sirll.  Douglas,  Hart., Lt.Gov.          "            "  Aug. 28,1821. 

W.  IJlaek,  1^,1, President         "            "  Mch.  30, 1829. 

Maj.  Gen.  Sir  A.  Campbell,  lkrt.,G.C.B.,  Lt.Gov.  "            "  Sept.   9,1831. 

Maj.  Gen.  Sir  J.  Harvey,  K.C.H.,C.l}.,     "  "            "  May     1,1837. 

Sir  W.  M.  G.  Colebrooke,  K,  IL, "                   "             "  Apr.  26, 1841. 

SirE.  W.  Head, "                 "            " ISSl. 

J.  H.  T.  M.  Sutton,  Esq., "                  "            "  1855. 

The  natural  advantages  of  Nc,  Bnmswick  are  very  great.  It 
possesses  remarkable  capacities  for  supporting  a  dense  population. 
Very  much  of  its  best  land  is  still  unsettled;  large  ranges  of  excel- 
lent timber  arc  uncut ;  unknown  stores  of  valuable  minerals  are 


482 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


awaiting  the  miner;  the  most  productive  fisheries  in  the  wholo  world 
lie  along  all  its  coast,  around  all  its  islands,  in  every  one  of  its  rivers 
and  lakes.  A  superabundance  of  fuel  and  water-power  is  at  hand 
everywhere  for  manufacturing  purposes.  Numerous  safe  and  con- 
venient harbors  aflbrd  ample  accommodation  to  commerce,  internal 
connnunication  by  water  is  singularly  extensive  and  easy,  and 
bridges,  roads  and  railroads  are  yearly  perfecting  the  system.  The 
elnnents  of  agricultural,  commercial  and  manufacturing  prosperity 
are  unbounded  in  quantity.  Nothing  but  the  judicious  cmiiloyment 
of  capital  and  labor  is  recjuired  to  elevate  New  Brunswick  to  a  very 
high  place  in  power  and  wealth.  Those  recjuisites  are  in  fact  every 
year  more  and  more  freely  supplied  ;  and  the  future  prospects  of  the 
Province  r\re  bright  enough  to  satisfy  the  v.armcst  desires. 


NOVA  SCOTIA. 


Ij     XiL    Jiii   a>       X      Jj     Ji!,  X  • 

NOVA  SCOTIA   DISCOVERED. — FIRST  OCCUPIED  BY  THE  FRENCH. 
—  COLONY  OF  DE  LA  ROCHE. —  CONVICTS  ON  SABLK  ISLAND. 
— DE  MONTS.  GOVERNOR  OP  ACADIA. — CONFISCATES  ROS- 
SIGNOL'S    GOODS.  —  POUTR  I  N  COU  RT    SETTLES    I'ORT 
ROYAL.  —  MAMBERTON,  Til  E  INDIAN  SACHEM. — 
POUTRINCOURT  AND  THE  JESUITS.  —  A  R- 
U  A  L  L  INVADES  ACADIA.  — SIR  WIL- 
LIAM  ALEXANDER'S  SETTLERS. — 
KIRK'S  CONQUEST   OF  CANADA. 
—  RAZILLAI.— CHARNISSK. 
—  DE  LA  TOUR. 

In  tracing  iho  liir.tory  of  Novh  Scotia,  it  will  be  nocossary  to 
include  an  account  ot"  a  very  largo  territory  formerly  known  under 
that  name,  or  under  that  of  Acudia,  which  was  anciently  synonvnicuis 
with  it. 

The  precise  [)eriod  of  the  discovery  of  Nova  Scotia  hy  Ijuropeans, 
after  Cabot's  vt)yage  in  1 107,  is  not  ascertained.  'I'lie  French  hw, 
however,  usually  supposed  to  have  been  first  accpiainted  with  it,  and 
an  old  sea-captain  named  Scavaltf  had  miule  forty  voyages  to  the 
harbor  of  ('anseau  before  1001);  that  port  being  already  a  favorite 
resort  for  fishermen.  The  coast  was,  however,  for  a  considerable 
period,  the  only  portion  of  the  pcnin.^nJa  at  all  occupied  by  Kuro- 
peans,  and  then  only  temporarily,  while  engaged  in  curing  llii'ir  lish. 
The  first  actual  attempt  to  colonize  it  wa.s  made  by  the  iMaripiis  de  la 
Uocho,  in  1508.  who  took  out  by  the  orders  of  Henry  IV.,  a  nninber 
of  convicts,  wh(t  were  to  l»e  made  sfi iters.  The  IManpiis  seems  not 
to  have  possessed  much  practical  common  sense,  for  having  landed 


k 

1 


481 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


on  Sable  Island,  a  dreary  little  sand  bank  a  hundred  n)ile.s  distant 
from  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  he  chose  to  consider  it  a  j^ood  place 
to  make  a  settlement,  left  forty  of  his  ship's  company  upon  it,  and 
proceeded  to  explore  the  main  land.  In  this  pursuit  he  sjient  some 
time,  ami  was  then  driven  back  to  France  by  severe  storms,  without 
taking:  oil'  those  whom  he  had  left  on  Sable  Island.  The.se  unluckv 
persons  were  saved  from  starvation  by  the  wreck  of  a  vessel  on  th(,' 
island,  from  which  they  obtained  some  sheep,  and  plaidi  to  make; 
huts.  When  their  i)rovisions  were  gone  they  lived  on  fish,  and  when 
their  clothes  wore  out  they  made  others  of  seal-skins.  In  this  dread- 
ful solitude  they  remained  f'>r  seven  years,  when  King  Henry  sent 
Chetodel,  De  la  Roche's  j  •  ;,  to  brin^  them  home.  Only  twelve 
were  left  alive,  and  these  the  king  pardoned,  in  consideration  of  their 
sull'erintrs. 

In  1(50.'},  M.  de  Monts  received  from  Henry  IV.  a  commission  as 
Governor  General  of  Acadia,  the  territor\   placed  under  his  juri.sdic- 
tion  extiMidini;  from  Vir^^inia  to  Hud.son  s  Hay.     Instead  of  any  sal- 
ary in  this  ullice,  he  had  a  monopoly  of  the  lur-trade  within  his  limits, 
and  larye  powers  for  the  enforcement  of  his  privileges.     He  was  a 
Protestant,  and  a  man  of  energy  and  ability,  and  succeeded  in  organ- 
izing an  as.sociation  of  wealthy  merchants,  for  the  jturpose  of  trndiii!; 
under  his  license.     In  March,  ItSOl,  he  sailed  from  France,  and  in 
just  twt»  months  reached  a  harbor,  now  Liverpool  harbor,  and  find- 
intt  one  Itossignol  trading  with  the  Indian.-*  without  a  license.  ci>nfis- 
cated  his  ship  and  good.s,  with  no  eomjK'nsation  excrpt  that  of  givinij 
hiii  nanie  to  the  place.     J'roceeding  in  the  expUiration  of  the  coast, 
De  Moi.ts  doubled  Cape  Sable  and  discovered   the   Hay  of  I-'undy, 
which  he  named  I.ia  Haye  Franeoise;  and  on  whose  borders  he  found 
a  vein  of  non  ore,  and  another,  which  he  supposed  to  c<»ritain  silver. 
A  friend  of  De  M<»nts,  named    I'outrineotn  t,  was  so  much  delightnl 
with  tlu'  couniry  near  Annapolis,  that  he  obt.iined  a  grant  oi'  it  from 
De   Monts,  determined   to  establish   himself  there,  and   nametl   the 
phu-e   Port  Iloyal.     It   was  during  tliis  vo\agc  that  De  Monts  ex- 
plori-d  the  St.  .lohn  and  St.  Oroix  rivers,  as  lian  beiMi  nxMitioned  in 
the  acci'unt  of  New  Hrunswick.     While  makiii'j  these  explorations, 
a  cirrgyuian  who  had  come  out  from  a  love  of  travel,  lost  himself  in 
the  woods,  and  only  by  a  providential  chance  was  rescued,  after  six- 
teen dayH  of  wandtM'ing  and  living  on  berries  and  roots,  by  a  bout's 
crew  sent  in  shore  to  fish. 

The  island  in  the  St.  (.'roix  river,  where  De  Monts  at  first  estuh- 


NOVA     SCOTIA. 


4b5 


lished  himself,  was  soon  found  not  to  he  a  favorable  site  for  a  settle- 
nient;  and  after  exploriufj  the  coast  as  far  as  Cape  Cod,  he  removed 
to  I'ort  Iloyal.     Here  the  colonists  erected  a  fort  and  hahitations, 
cleared  ground,  and  set  about  cultivating  crops,  raising  animals,  and 
trading  with  the  Indians.     The  French  have  always  shown  a  pecid- 
iar  talent  for  conciliating  savages,  and  accordingly   Mamberton.  a 
jrreat  sachem  of  that  retrion,  and  his  tribe,  became  the  fast  friends  of 
the  settlers  at   IVrt  Koyal.     They  erected   a  water-mill,  caught  and 
cured  several  hogsheads  of  herrings  and  alewives.  which  they  sent 
to  France,  and  were  in  a  fair  way  to  l)?come  a  (loun»hing  and  jMrofit- 
able  colony.     De  Monts,  however,  was  after  a  year  or  two  deprived 
of  his  monopoly  and   his  commission  by  intrigues  at  home,  and  his 
friend  Poutrincourt  became  the  leader  of  the  colonists      'I'he  Fr»»nch 
kill!;  soon  insisted  upon  the  admission  of  Jesuit  missionaries  into  liie 
colonv,  much  to  rlie  disgust  of  I'outrincourt.  although  he  was  a  zeal- 
ous Catholic,     lie  was,  however,  obliged   to  permit  their  presence, 
but  treated  them  in  such  a  cavalier  Mianner,  his  son,  who  soon  suc- 
ceeded him  at  his  return  to  Franco,  even  threatening  them  w  ilh  cor- 
|ioral  |tunishme!it  if  they  attotnpted   to  interfere  in  the  government, 
that  thev  finally  went  olf  to  Mount  Desert  Island,  where  they  estj'.b- 
lished  a  mission. 

But  both  the  Mount  Desert  colony  and  that  at  Port  Roya!  were 
soon  broken  up  by  an  expedition  in  1013,  under  Capt.  Argail.  from 
Virginia,  on  the  ground  that  the  French  settlemenls  were  v.ithin  the 
chartered  limits  of  the  I'n<;lish  colony.  Argail  Hrst  destroyed  the 
settlement  at  Mount  De.sert,  and  then  returning  a  second  time,  cap- 
tured Port  Iloval.  and  sent  some  of  its  inhabitants  to  Fiiigland,  while 
others  fle-I  to  the  Indians,  or  to  the  French  settlements  in  Cana  1.'. 
Neither  the  English  nor  the  French  govevp*  ir<it  took  any  notice  of 
these  distant  hostilities,  and  indeed  «or  mup_  y«ja»s  neither  of  them 
considered  the  settlements  in  Acadia  to  pos'  f:.  my  value  or  import- 
ance at  all. 

Fight  years  after  Argall's  expediti'"  .lames  I.  issued  a  grant  to 
Sir  William  Alexander,  a  Scotch  gentleman  of  talents,  enterprise 
and  education,  a  grain  of  all  the  com. try,  east  ot  a  line  drawn  from 
the  St.  Croix  nortlnvard  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  to  which  the  name 
Xova  Scotia  was  '.hen  given  for  the  fi'si  time.  This  name  and  that 
of  Acadia  were  nearly  synonvmous  ;  the  latter — unless  indeed  it 
applied  (♦»  the  enormous  territory  granted  to  Do  Mo:. ts— including 
also  a  part  of  the  state  of  Maine.     Sir  William  sent  oi-  some  emi- 


<0; 


,.     X 


480 


AMERICA     ILLUSTRATED. 


grants,  who  reached  Nova  Scotia  in  the  spring  of  1G23,  after  a  long 
voyage,  and  a  winter's  dehiy    at    Newloundland.     They   however 
ftmnd  the  country  still  occupied  by  the  survivors  of  the  French  em- 
igrants.  and  by  various  other  adventurers,  who  liad  quietly  come  in, 
tinding  it  neglected  by  the  English;  and  not  l)einir  strong  enough  for 
vinliMit   measures,  I  hey   returned   to  Englar.d.     In   1027,  four  years 
al'terwards,  .Sir  William  procured  a  renewal  and  eidargement  of  his 
grant  from  Charles  I.,  wiio  also  establi.shed  an  order  of  Knights  Bar- 
onets, whose  dignity  and  territorial  possessions  in  Nova  Scotia  were 
to  depend  upon  their  aiding  the  new  settlenients  there.     Alexander 
now  secured   the  services   of  a   French  adventurer  named   Kertk. 
usually  called   Sir  David   Kirk,  fitted   out   a  second  expedition,  and 
sent  it  <tut  to  recoiKjuer  Acadia  from  the  French,  and  settle  it  under 
his  own  grant.     Kirk  captured,  in  lO'iT,  eighteen  French  transports, 
containing  lllH  cannon,  intendeil  for  Port  Koyal  and  Quebec;  in  the 
next   year  he  totfk  I'ort  Koyal,  and  enfereii   the  St.  Lawrence  with 
the  intention  of  coiuiueriiig  the  rest  »»f  Canada,  but  the  approach  of 
winter  delayed  hint  unlil  ihe  next  summer,  when  Champlain,  having 
lint  a  feeble  force,  surrehdered  Quebec  to  him.  and  he  took  po.vsessioii 
of  all    I'reiH'h   North  .\merica  lor  the   British  crown.     De  la  Tour, 
oiie  of  Kirk's  prisoners,  of  whose  feud  with  (,'harnisse  an  acc(»unt  is 
uiven  under  the  lu;ad  of  IVew   Brunswick,   in  the  course  of  his  en- 
iraLiements  with  Sir  VVilli.iin  Alexander,  came  to  Nova  Scotia  with 
two  ships.  f(  nnd  Ins  son   Ftienne  holding  for  the  French  kinir  a  fort 
at  Cape  Sable,  endeavored   in   vain   to  gain   him  over  to  the  Fiiiglish, 
then  made  a  violent  but   fruitless  attack  on  the  fort,  gave  up  his  un- 
dertaking, and  sent   his  shi|)s   b:ick   to    Fn^lanii.  himself  remaining 
under  his  son's  protection,  but   on   the  humiliating  condition  that  he 
shunlil  not  enter  the  fort.      Next   year  he    joined   some   Scotch  enii- 
jrants.  and  with  them  erected    i   lort  at  Uran\ille.  across  the  basin 
from  l'<nt  lloyal.  whose  n-mains  still  exist.      But   thirty  of  W:-*  com- 
pany died   the   first   winter,  and   .Mexand«M-.  discouratred  at  the  lari:.' 
ex|K'nses  and   ."»nial)   .success  of  his  settlements,  cave  up  his  whi'le 
interest  in  i\«>va  Scotia,  except  at  I'ort  Royal,  to  his  more  enterprii;- 
ing  assoeiatr  F^a  Tour. 

In  Ifiliv.  Charles  I.,  bv  tin*  treaty  of  St.  (lertnains.  ceded  to  f.onis 
XIII.  all  the  English  riirhts  t*-  Canada  and  the  p.ovinces.  which  were 
C(»llectiveiy  l#*'*med  New  France.  The  French  had  l>ef'ore  this  tinn'. 
and  while  the  English  wrr**  still  in  \t^m  n  ol'  the  cou'itiy.  formed 
in  Ui'il  a  large  company  railed   the  (       .pany  of  New  Franc*-,  with 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


487 


great  powers  and  jTrivileges,  and  including  Cardinal  Richelieu  and 
oilier  nolilcs  and  eminent  men,  with  a  view  to  permanent  settlements 
and  th(!  Indian  trade.  The  eighteen  traiLsports  taken  by  Kirk  were 
the  property  of  this  company,  and  their  first  expedition.  This  mis- 
fortune was  I'ollowed  closely  by  his  conquest  (d  the  whole  country, 
arJ  a  strong  I'orce  was  being  fitted  r.xit  under  liazillai  to  reconcjuer 
it,  when  it  was  given  up  by  l^ngland.  Most  of  the  niilitary  lore's 
were  therelore  lett  behind  ;  and  lla/illai  came  oi:t  inerely  as  com- 
mandant of  Acadia,  lie  established  himselt  at  La  Have,  and  bein" 
under  orders  w  keep  possession  of"  the  country  to  the  Kennebeu 
river,  he  presently  sent  an  expedition  which  look  tin  jiost  established 
ly  the  Plymouth  colonists  at  l*ema(|uid  lor  trading  with  the  Indians, 
carried  the  goods  to  La  Have,  and  lelt  a  garrison  t(»  lujld  the  place. 

Razillai  died  soon  alter,  and  was  succeeded  by  Daubre  de  ("har- 
iiisse,  who  removed  his  head-(piarters  to  I'entagoet  or  I'enobscot,  on 
the  river  of  that  name.  The  history  of  the  troubles  between  Char- 
iiisse  and  La  Tour  belongs  to  New  Brunswick,  where  it  may  befound. 

In  1U51,  Nova  Scotia  fell  a  third  time  into  the  hands  of  the  Kng- 
lisli,  being  easily  laken  by  an  expedition  under  Major  Sedgwick,  an 
ollieer  sent  out  by  I'romweli.  'J'his  possession  wi'.s,  however,  lit  lie 
else  than  the  armed  occupation  of  I'ort  K(»yal ;  the  rrench,  though 
thus  prevented  Iron,  hostilities  with  the  New  England  ineii.  still  oc- 
cupying uil  the  other  posts  and  the  rest  of  the  country,  and  possess- 
ing the  entire  monopoly  of  the  Indian  trade. 

Ktienne  de  la  Tour  now  associated  with  him?elf  T.'iomas  Temple 
and  William  ("rowne,  and  on  petition  to  the  Protector,  obiaiiie<l  a 
grant  of  a  territory  extending  from  Merliguash  «jr  Lunenburg,  aloim 
the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  the  Bay  of  rundy,  and  Maine,  to  the  I'e- 
nobscot.  and  three  hundre«l  miles  inland,  with  all  the  islands  and  fi.vli- 
eries,  and  ioserving  to  the  governnienl  onl\  the  mines  and  mineral.-:. 
and  the  a|)|>ointment  of  governor.  Teniplt!  shortly  bought  out  La 
Tour,  and  expended  £l(i, 000  in  reestabiishintr  the  forts  and  posts  : 
and  had  ahx-ady  begun  to  receive  a  large  inconte  from  'he  furs  and 
fisheries,  when  his  |>lans  were  broken  up  by  ano'.her  cession  of  th  • 
whole  country  to  Franco  at  the  treaty  of  Breda,  in  1007.  Teiniic 
tried  to  kee|)  part  of  his  ands  by  making  a  distinction  beiwtcu 
.Acadia,  the  term  ased  in  the  treaty,  and  Nova  Scotia,  to  the  efli-.  i 
that  Acadia  meant  only  a  part  of  the  peninsula  of  Nova  Scotui, 
Tlii.-*  quibble  was,  however,  overruled,  and  the  Chevalier  de  Grand 
Fontaine  took  possession  of  the  coi;'itry. 


i'lm 


488  AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 

Vj     uui    tbjtf    X        X       uLi     wit  X    X  • 

GIIOWTII    OP  NOVA    SCOTIA  UNDER    THE    FREXCU.  —  KINO    WIL- 
LIAM'S   WAR. — SIR    WILLIAM   PHIPS  TAKES  I'OUT  ROYAL. — 
VILLABON  AT  (JEMSEC.  —  NOVA    SCOTIA   SEPARATED    PROM 
MASSACHUSETTS.  —  PEACE  OP  RYSWICK. — QUEEN   ANNE'S 
WAR. — FRENCH    NEGOTIATIONS    W  I'lH    PIRATES  — 
CHURCH'S    INVASION    OP    NOVA  SCOTIA,  —  REPULSE 
OP  THIRD  MASSACHUSETTS  INVASION. — A  PCURTH 
ONE  TAKES  PORT  ROYAL. — PEACE  OP  UTRECHT. 
—  RELUCTANCE  OF   ENGLISH  TO  SETTLE. — 
DESTRUCTION  OP  NORKIDGWOCK. 

Nova  Scotia  now  remained  in  the  quiet  pc-^session  of  the  French 
for  twenty  years,  but  only  iiif-reased  very  slowly,  its  p(»pulation  not 
reaching  1,000,  and  receiving  from  the  Uiother  country  little  altenticii 
and  less  assistance  ;  for  in  those  days  the  European  governnieiit.s 
recognized  but  one  (piality  of  real  value  in  a  colony,  viz.,  the  produc- 
tion of  the  precious  metals. 

When  war  again  broke  out  between  Kii!.'land  and  France,  in  ICS9. 
the  year  alter  the  pccession  of  William  and  Mary,  the  French  gov- 
ermnont  was  still  deliberating  on  j)lans  for  strengthening  the  military 
conditio.!  of  its  feeble  and  scattered  posts  in  Acadia.  The  enthu.M- 
astic  Protestant  loyalty  of  Massachusetts,  however,  acting  with  more 
promptitude,  (pjickly  fitted  up  a  fleet  of  transports,  with  three  men- 
of-war  and  700  troops,  under  Sir  William  rhi|)s,  which  appean-d 
before  I'ort  Uoyal.  May  *20,  1(500.  Manival.  the  French  commaiuii.r. 
having  but  80  men,  his  works  ddapidated  and  most  of  his  guns  ili.";- 
mounted,  after  some  negotiation  surrendered,  on  terms  which,  liic 
I'rench  writers  claim.  I'hips  subse(iuently  violated,  filundering  indi.s- 
criminately  the  town,  the  olhcers,  and  the  [)riests.  'I'hence  he  sailLiI 
to  Chedabucto,  wi;ore  M.  Monlorgueil  the  cf)nunandant  made  a  bravo 
defense,  but  wa     >blig  .'  to  surrender,  obtaining  honctrable  terms. 

\'illaboii.  app(  ited  governor  ''y  the  French  king,  shortly  arrived 
and  finding  the  i")sts  on  the  pc.nHula  dismantled  by  the  Knglisii, 
established  his  head-cpiarters  at  the  (jemsec  within  the  present  liniils 
of  New  Brunswick,  where  he  annoyed  the  New  Fnglanders  n>-.Kh 
by  his  expeditions.     After  taking  the  ibrt  ut  IVmacjuid,  he  was  h»»w- 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


489 


ever  himsolf  taken  and  carried  prisoner  to  Boston,  and  an  expedition 
sent  from  that  town  under  Colonel  ('liurch,  ravaged  tljc  couutrv 
about  Heau  IJasin,  now  Cumberland  county. 

The  people  of  Massachusetts  had  up  to  this  time  claimed  to  pos- 
sess Nova  Scotia  under  their  charter,  and  had  at  various  times  ap- 
jtointed  oflicers  to  govern  it ;  but  finding  themselves  unable  to  hold 
it,  they  petitioned  the  crown  to  relieve  them  of  the  charge,  which 
was  accordingly  done,  and  Novu  Scotia  made  a  separate  jurisdic- 
tion. The  English  maintained  their  jnilitary  hold  upon  Acndia  until 
1(»!1(»,  when  it  was  again  ceded  to  France  by  the  peace  of  Kyswick. 

\'illabon,  the  French  governor,  now  asserted  an  enclusive  right  for 
the  French,  to  all  the  fisheries  in  the  waters  of  those  coasts,  and 
informed  the  governor  of  Massachusetts  that  he  should  make  prison- 
ers of  all  Fnglish  found  fishing  or  trading  east  of  the  Kennebec.  He 
had  not,  however,  force  enough  to  execute  his  threat,  and  the  English 
still  retained  possession  of  a  large  share  of  the  fisheries. 

The  peace  concluded  at  Ryswick  only  lasted  until  1701,  when  win- 
was  declared  by  England  against  France  on  account  of  the  ackiiowl- 
edgtnent  of  the  pretender  by  Louis  XIV.;  and  one  of  the  fiivt  designs 
entertained  by  the  French  was,  to  obtain  once  more  possession  ol' 
Acadia.  Extended  schemes  for  emigration  and  fortification  were 
projected,  but  v  .re  soon  laid  aside.  Orders  were,  however,  sent  to 
the  governor,  Hrouillard,  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  enlarge  the  trade 
of  La  Have,  to  strengthen  its  fortifications,  and  to  keep  the  New 
Engiaiiders  out  of  the  lishcry.  IJrouillard,  receiving  no  forces  to 
execute  these  orders,  either  from  France  or  Canada,  hail  recourse  to 
the  pirates  who  were  then  (piite  numerous  all  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  of  America,  and  succeeded  in  inciting  them  to  depredate  ujion 
the  New  England  trading  vessels.  They  ni;ide  La  Have  their  depot, 
and  the  money  and  merchandise  they  brought  in  enabled  Brouiilard 
to  pay  the  Indians  whom  he  set  on  lo  attack  the  Engli.>;h  by  laii(i ;  so 
that  he  managed  to  make  both  his  two  branches  of  warfare  self- 
supporting. 

I'o  a\('nge  these  hostile  acts,  Col.  Church  was  agai':  sent  to  invade 
Nova  Scotia,  in  1701,  with  n  lleet  and  5,'>0  men.  lie  entered  the 
I'enobscot  and  seized  the  «l;uighter  of  Baron  Castine.  destroyed  the 
s.'ttlements  on  the  Passama«|uotid_\ .  those  at  Minas,  (now  Morton.) 
ai.d  those  at  Chiegiiecto,  and  at  the  latter  place  inflicted  an  et  or- 
tiioiis  Mijury  «ui  the  French  by  pierciiig  the  dykes  and  overflowing 
tn.'-ir  extensive  reclaimed  meadow-lands  with  the  sea.     He  did  not. 


i^mmiS 


490 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


however,  venture  to  attack  the  fort  at  Port  Royal,  although  his  fleet 
lay  for  some  time  in  the  harbor  there. 

Three  years  later,  in  1707,  the  consent  of  the  English  government, 
and  an  accompanying  promise  that  Acadia  if  now  taken  from  the 
French  should  not  be  given  up  to  them  again,  stimulated  the  untiring 
New  Englanders  to  send   another  expedition   to  Nova  Scotia.     A 
thousand  men  were  therefore  sent,  who  arrived  before  Port  Royal  in 
May.     The  judicious  arrangements  and  energetic  defense  of  Brouil- 
lard's  successor,  Subercase,  however,  and  the  aid  of  a  considerable 
force  of  Indians  and  Acadians  under  the  Baron  de  Castine,  resulted 
in  the  repulse  of  the  assailants,  and  then  in  their  being  comitelled  to 
reiMubark.     Governor   Dudley,  on  their  arrival,  made   them   return 
and   try  a  second  experiment,  which,  however,  was  a  still  inore  de- 
cided failure.     But  both  the  colonics  and   the  mother  country  wore 
still  determined  to  conquer  Acadia,  and  accordingly,  in  1710,  a  force 
of  four  regiments  under  Gen.  Nicholson,  with  a  fleet  of  six  vessels 
of   war  and   thirty   transports,  sailed   from   Boston,   reaching    Port 
Royal  in  Se])tember.     Governor  .Subercase,  whose  small  force  was 
totally  unable  to  contend  with  this  army,  and  many  of  whose  men 
were  also  nmch  disallected,  alter  sustaining  one  day's  cannonade,  ca- 
pitulated, receiving  honorable  terms,  and  stipulating  that  tlie  French 
inhabitants  of  Port  Royal  who  might  wish  to  go  to  Placentia,  or  to 
certain  other  places,  within  one  and  two  years.     The  garrison,  t]58 
in  number,  and  nearlv  as  manv  of  the   inhabitants,  in  all  481   souls 
were  also  by  the  terms  sent  to  Rochelle  in  France;  and  Nicholson, 
leaving  a  strong  garrison  at  Port   Royal,   returned  in  triumph  to 
Boston. 

The  French  seemed  to  awaken  to  a  clear  perception  of  the  value 
of  Acadia,  just  as  they  lost  it ;  and  efl'orts  were  made  by  Pontchar- 
train,  the  minister,  and  by  Vaudreuil,  governor  of  Canada,  to  pro- 
cure its  recovery,  the  former  by  means  of  a  proposed  company  ot" 
merchants,  the  latter,  unable  to  spare  forces  from  Canada,  by  iip- 
pointing  the  Baron  de  Castine  governor  of  Acadia,  and  urging  him 
and  the  priests  to  incite  the  Indians  and  French  to  riMiiain  faithful 
to  the  French,  and  to  retake  Port  Royal.  Castine  did  in  fact  hiy 
siege  to  that  post,  and  a  reinforcement  from  Canada  was  about  set- 
ting out  to  aid  them,  when  Admiral  8ir  Ilovendt-n  Walker's  llt't-t 
entered  the  !St.  Lawrence,  and  made  it  necessary  to  keep  all  the  tlis- 
posablc  force  to  protect  Quebec.  Hostilities  of  a  desultory  kind 
were  however  kept  up  by  the  Ac'adians  and  Indians,  until  the  peace 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


491 


of  Utrecht,  in  1813,  when  Nova  Scotia  was  formally  ccdori  to  Etiu- 
land,  and  France  at  the  same  time  gave  up  the  right  to  fish  within 
thirty  leagues  of  its  coast. 

The  English  now  strengthened  the  works  of  Port  Royal,  whoso 
name  they  altered  to  Annapolis,  and  garrisoned  it  with  a  body  of 
New  England  troops;  but  still  no  eflbrts  of  any  significance  were 
made  to  introduce  English  settlers  into  the  country,  for  a  long  time  ; 
and  the  French  Acadians,  though  declining  to  remove  to  the  French 
island  of  Cape  Breton,  still  for  some  time  refused  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  English  crown.  When  at  last  a  considerable  num- 
l)er  of  them  did  so,  it  was  with  a  decided  understanding  that  they 
were  never  to  be  called  upon  to  bear  arms  against  their  countrymen  ; 
and  lience  they  now  became  very  generally  known  as  the  "neutral 
French."  The  English  government  consisted  of  a  governor  and 
council,  which  body  with  one  exception  was  made  up  of  ofiicers  of 
the  garrison,  as  no  English  families  had  settled  in  the  province ;  and 
twenty-four  deputies  were  chosen  annually,  each  by  one  of  the  dis- 
tricts of  the  peninsula,  who  acted  as  a  species  of  arbitrators,  sub- 
ject to  an  appeal  to  the  governor  and  council.  The  French  settlers 
lived  in  almost  entire  independence  of  their  English  rulers,  paying 
no  rent  nor  taxes,  and  not  being  at  all  restricted  in  their  religion. 

Edbrts  were  made  to  induce  emigration  from  New  England,  but 
in  vain ;  the  hostile  disposition  of  the  Indians,  always,  throughout 
that  part  of  the  country,  more  under  French  than  English  infiuence, 
reluctance  to  venture  among  a  jiopulation  so  foreign  in  character 
and  religion  as  the  French  Acadians,  and  a  feeling  that  a  renewal 
of  the  war  was  not  improbable  at  any  time,  deterred  the  inhabitants 
of  New  England  from  removing.  In  fact,  the  apprehensions  of  hos- 
tilities were  soon  justified  ;  for  the  Indians,  instigated,  assisted  and 
commanded  by  French  from  Cape  Breton  or  Nova  Scotia,  soon 
began  to  make  attacks  upon  the  English  fishermen  and  fishing  cstab- 
li.shmonf'j.  Crinse.'iu  was  taken  by  the  Indians  in  August  17*20,  sev- 
eral of  the  English  killed,  and  ])roperty  to  the  amount  of  £'20, 000 
•carried  ofi'  or  destroyed.  Many  other  similar  attacks  were  made, 
including  a  second  one  upon  Canseati,  when  seventeen  sail  of  fishing 
vessels,  and  fifty  or  sixty  pri-soners  were  taken,  nine  of  whom  were 
tortured  to  death.  Complaints  were  made  to  the  French  governor 
at  Louisbourg,  but  he  answered  evasively,  and  the  Indian  hostilities 
contimied.  That  portion  of  the  Indian  tribes  engaged  in  these  wars 
which  occupied  the  western  part  hi'  Nova  Scotia,  belonged  to  the 


492 


AMERfCA    ILLUSTRATED. 


large  tribe  of  the  AberKKjuis,  whose  chief  settlements  were  at  Nor- 
rid^'ewock  on  the  Kennebec.  Here  was  the  residence  of  the  Baron 
de  ("astine,  a  half-breed,  the  son  of  the  old  Baron  de  Castine  and  an 
Indian  woman,  a  man  of  large  wealth,  great  abilities,  and  unbounded 
influence  among  the  tribe,  of  whom  he  was  the  ackno\  odged  chief 
sachem.  Here  was  also  established  the  Jesuit  llallc,  forty  years  a 
missionary  to  the  Indians,  and  not  less  idolized  1  y  them  than  was 
Castine.  To  the  influence  of  Castine  and  Rallr-  v. as  attributed, 
with  good  reason,  the  continued  hostility  of  the  eastern  Indians  ;  an 
expedition  from  Massachusetts  entered  the  Kennebec  in  Auirust 
1724,  failed  to  secure  Ca-tine,  who  had  gone  to  France  to  take  jios- 
session  of  his  hereditary  estate  there,  but  surprised  the  Indians  at 
Xoriidgewock,  defeated  them  with  great  slaughter,  destroyed  the 
village;  and  the  church,  and  killed  llalle,  who  is  said  by  the  FrLMich 
to  have  advanced  unarn.ed  toward  the  English,  but  by  the  latter  to 
liave  been  fu'ing  on  them  from  a  wigwam.  This  severe  chastise- 
Miint,  and  some  other  similar  measures,  and  the  loss  of  their  leaders, 
for  Castine  remained  in  France,  humbled  the  Indians,  and  kept  them 
quiet  for  a  considerable  time. 


\j      JuJL    wot    X        iL       <XJ      iub  kU    X    Ju    o 


E'S 
'S 


VAR  OF  1741. — DU  VIVIEll'S  EXPEDITION.  —  DUKE  D'ANVILL 
FLEBT.—  Wr.ECKS,  AND  ITS  FAILURE.  —  ANSON  AND  WAUUEN 
VICTORY  OVER  DE  LA  JONQUIEUE. —  SLOW  INCREASE  01'  EN(/- 
LlSJi  cm  ONIST.^.  —  SEIILEMENT  OF  HALIFAX.  —  FRENCH 
TAMPER  WITH  INDIANS.  —  WAR  OF  1750.  —  COL.  WINS- 
LOW'S  EXPEDITION   FROM  M  A  SSACH  U  3ETTS,  —  PER- 
PLEXITIES   AS    TO    THE    ACADIANS.  —  RESOLVED 
TO    REMOVE    THLM. —  DISPERSED    AMONG    THE 
COLONIES.  —  FIRST  HOUSE  OF  ASSEMRLY-  — 
"CHARTER    OF    NOVA    SCOTIA." 


In  1744  France,  over-estimating  some  political  troubles  in  Eng- 
land, and  expecting  eflicient  aid  from  the  partizans  of  the  pretender, 
declared  war  against  England.  The  news  was  brought  to  Cape 
Breton  by  a  fast  sailing  vessel,  but  with  orders  to  De  Quesnel,  the 


:-ri 


ere  at  Nur- 
jf  tlie  Baron 
isline  and  an 
(1  unbounded 
,  odi'cd  cliief 
forty  years  a 
em  til  an  was 
IS    attributed, 
1  Indians ;  an 
;c   in  Au'4ust 
e  to  take  jios- 
lie   Indians  at 
destroyed  the 
by  the  French 
ly  the  latter  to 
;vere  chasiise- 
r  their  leaders, 
and  kept  them 


Nova    «  c  u  t  i  a  . 


493 


D'ANYU.LE'S 
1>  WAllUKN'S 
ASK  OF  KNU- 
—  PR  EN  C  11 
I,.  WINS- 
—  I'Kll- 
0  L  V  K  U 

T  II  K 
Y-  — 


roubles  in  Eng- 
f  the  pretender, 
tu'jht   to  Cape 


)c  Quesnel,  the 


governor,  to  make  no  movement  against  Nova  Scotia  until  furllier 
orders.  That  ollicer,  however,  unable  to  resist  the  temptation  lo 
surprise  Canseau  and  Annapolis,  and  knowing  that  if  he  could  take 
the  latter  port  he  might  depend  upon  the  aid  of  as  many  as  4,000  of 
the  "  neutral  French,"  equipped  an  expedition  of  several  small  ves- 
sels and  three  or  four  hundred  men  under  M.  Du  Vivier,  which  to<jk 
Canseau,  and  laid  siege  to  Annapolis,  but  failed  to  take  it,  though  the 
works  were  so  dilapidated  that  cattle  went  in  and  out  over  the  ram- 
parts, and  only  eighty  men  were  in  garrison.  Four  Xew  England 
companies  soon  reinforced  it  however  ;  and  Du  Vivier,  having  in  vain 
endeavored  to  bring  his  forces  to  a  general  assault,  retreated.  The 
French  court  severely  reprimanded  him  for  this  ill-advised  attempt, 
which  it  had  exj)ressly  forbidden,  as  lik  'y  to  lead  to  an  attack  ujiun 
Louisbourg.  These  apprehensions  \  'le  soon  verified  by  the  pro- 
vincial expedrtioii  originated  by  U'  ^r  Shirley  of  Massachusetts, 
which  took  that  fortress  in  the  very  car. 

The  success  of  this  expedition  was  undoubtedly  a  principal  reason 
for  the  transfer  of  an  important  part  of  the  war  between  England 
and  France  to  the  colonies  of  North  America.  In  1746,  a  jwwerful 
French  fleet  of  seventy  sail,  with  3,150  veteran  troops,  under  the 
Duke  d'Anville,  was  dispatched  to  America,  with  orders  to  retuke 
and  destroy  Louisbourg,  take  and  garrison  Port  Tloyal,  destroy  Bus- 
ton,  and  indeed  to  devastate  the  whole  range  of  English  settlements 
on  the  Atlantic  coast  and  in  the  West  Indies.  A  strong  force  of 
regulars,  militia,  covreurs  du  hois  and  Indians,  under  the  chevalier 
de  Ramsay,  in  all  of  about  1,700  men,  was  also  sent  from  Canada  to 
cooperate  with  the  fleet  in  the  reduction  of  Nova  Scotia.  A  most 
remarkable  series  of  delays,  misunderstandings  and  misfortunes  how- 
ever, so  opportune  as  to  be  attributed  by  the  pious  colonists  to  a 
special  providence,  broke  up  the  plan  of  operations ;  the  land  forces 
lost  more  than  two-thirds  of  their  number  by  an  infectious  disease, 
which  spread  to  the  Micmac  Indians,  and  destroyed  a  third  of  their 
tribe  ;  one  storm  after  another  shattered  the  fleet,  and  rluring  a 
final  attempt  fo  cooperate  with  Ramsay,  who  had  actually  invested 
Annapolis,  it  was  dispersed  by  another  tempest,  and  driven  back  to 
France.  Ramsay  passed  the  winter  with  his  forces  at  Chebucto, 
now  Halifax,  intending  to  recommence  operations  in  the  spring, 
in  concert  with  De  la  Jonciuiire,  who  had  succeeded  d'Anville  in  his 
command,  and  who  promised  to  return  with  another  fleet.  He  did 
in  fact  set   sail   wiih   thirty -eight  vessels,  but  was  encountered  by 


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494 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


Anson  and  Warren,  the  English  admirals,  on  May  3d,  1747,  who  in 
the  battle  which  followed,  captured  one  man-of-war,  six  East  India 
ships  in  convoy,  and  between  four  and  five  thousand  men;  inflict- 
ing upon  the  French  a  loss  estimated  at  a  million  and  a  half  of 
pounds  sterling.  Ramsay,  upon  learning  this  misfortune,  speedily 
retreated  to  Canada ;  and  in  October  of  the  same  year,  the  war  was 
concluded  by  the  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle. 

Nova  Scotia  had  now  been  uninterruptedly  in  the  possession  of 
the  English,  for  nearly  fifty  years,  and  no  efforts  of  any  importance 
had  been  made  to  colonize  it.  A  garrison  had  been  maintained  at 
Annapolis,  but  the  French  settlers  had  continued  to  possess  the 
country  and  the  Indian  trade,  and  were  constantly  aiding  the  sav- 
ages in  various  ways  to  keep  up  their  desultory  warfare  with  the 
Enslish.  The  French  government,  more  and  more  senaible  of  the 
value  of  the  province,  supposed  from  this  neglect  of  i\  by  the  Eng- 
lish government,  that  it  might  by  shrewd  negotiations  be  regained, 
and  they  made  some  efforts  accordingly.  The  people  of  Massachu- 
setts became  aware  of  this,  and  in  great  apprehension  of  the  result, 
they  made  such  urgent  applications  to  the  court  of  England,  that 
the  ministry  examined  the  subject  with  attention,  and  becoming  con- 
vinced of  the  importance  of  Nova  Scotia,  arranged  a  plan  for  invi- 
ting its  settlement  by  soldiers  and  officers  disbanded  at  the  late  peace, 
granting  them  bounties  of  land,  and  considerable  other  aid  in  money, 
tools,  (kc.  So  attractive  were  the  inducements  thus  offered,  that 
within  a  short  time  3,7G0  adventurers,  with  their  families,  were 
enrolled,  and  the  expedition,  with  the  Hon.  E.  Cornwallis  as  gov- 
ernor at  its  head,  sailed  in  May,  1749,  arriving  at  Chebucto  in  the 
end  of  June.  Here  a  civil  government  was  organized,  by  the  :ip- 
pointment  of  a  council  to  aid  the  governor,  and  a  site  having  been 
selected,  a  town  was  laid  out  and  vigorously  jmshed  to  coinplctioii, 
to  which  the  name  of  Halifax  was  given,  from  the  title  of  Earl  of 
Halifax,  who  had  been  the  most  efficient  promoter  of  the  scheme. 

The  French  ministry  pretended  to  find  authority  for  denying  any 
English  title  to  territory  in  Acadia  beyond  the  limits  of  the  peninsu- 
la of  Nova  tScotia.  They  were  als«j  much  alarmed  and  disple.-iscd 
at  the  establishment  of  so  strong  a  settlement  as  iliilifax.  which  iiuiii- 
bered,  including  soldiers  and  sailors,  about  ri.OOO  people  ;  and  upon 
finding  that  a  friendly  intercourse  and  trade  was  being  opened  1)0- 
twecn  the  English  colonists  and  the  Acadians,  and  that  tl  •  Indian 
tribes  were  also  submitting  themselves  to  the  English  jurisdiction, 


,4 


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J 


1^ 


494 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


llJiMK: 


.*  ^vi,i;.a«h  «  imirals.  on  May  3d,  3  747,  vvho  in 

4  =*?i>a*v  Jt-*?.v*«ri e«i  one  fnan-of-waj',  six  Erist  Indi. 

4(»il»-«MM»s4f«tr  and  five  thousand  men'    liitci- 

r'.      '., :.     ;  •.-'^r.f'i   a  ktafc  »»s:csmM*d  at   a  miltiotvan.'^fi  !i  ;lf  <>! 

•     ^:n^i.     11.mims?iv.  apors  h'arniiig  rhis  misfortune,  s;)e';  ii\ 

..-.o.  10  '  'nrada  :   .ii.d    :i  October  of  tlie  -n«>©  vcar,  the  V ftif'XviiS 

■  (iiiied  ^•y  iiK-  treaty  of  Aix-ia-Chapel!*;.  *" 

\.>.  1  Scotia  iiud  iM)U'  been    ininterrujitedl^  m  theposs^^sjon  uf 

',.'  Kntilisfi,  for  ueaiiy  iifty  yoa;-,  and  no  efforts  of  any  impdHunoe 

h;<ii  ul'iMi  made  (ct  colonize  it.      \  uarrisoil  had  been  jriain'.uned  at 

.Vmi.ij'olis,  hut  ihe    French    sciikT.''  had  continued  to  possess  the 

I,  i.'uiiiiy  aiul   ihe   liuiiaii  trade,  and  were  constantly  aiding  <h<v.-8av. 

;i'_^«  •;   m   various   \\  avs    to   kev])    i|i  their  desultory  warfare  with  the 

I'jijlish.     Tlio   I'lVfi'.h  ij;overnnient,  more  and  more  .senslWeof  ^he 

•  .liu-'  '  i  ti)«;  I'j-  v.itr.    Hill  Iff  t'.r.i  iv.ini  ;hi.s  negleci  of  it  by  the  Kng- 

I.     '     :    •      ;     -..</'.'     -v    'r^iw-d   negotiations  be  regained 

,:..:  1.*.'.-      lie     K'j.f'    «.   irdirH'fv      Tlic  }w;<>jne  of  Massuchi;- 

■r  {,■■  (^■•1  s,;.'    \>\.r.i'.  ';)  tits.     .  ti  •(;  gr<:at  apprchensioii  of  th<>  result, 

!i;».-v  ('■-}<•  >.>'<i       «• :  I     - '••      ,  -m*  !•*  »W  .TfTi '■«i  KngUjn*!,  that 

i'le   .iui;-i'\  •  v..  );■;.(  ii  ;*..•  ^.ii';-oi  ktiih  ntieittion.and  becoming ''on - 

\  meed  if  ihf*  ,()tp»rtni)ee  >'t  iNuva  tScotia.  urraogcd  a  plan  for  invi- 

(iiii!;  Its  ."ietllt'n.'iit  '.y  .sol<iii.TS  and  offictM'S  disband'x'  .il  the  1at«>  pt^acf*. 

■.:t anting  Ihcut  Ui. unties  o!  laii':;  and  considerablo  other  aid  in  monfv, 

t  Mils,  Aic.     >>«.  altiaetivf    wimo  the  indiiceniftits   itiuu  offered,  ■ii' t 

■Aithin  a  Khort  ttuit    :i,i(iO  iilvcniurer.x,  vviih   then"  i'lwrilies,  xwir 

(uruiled    aiitl   the  expedition,  aith   the   ilon.  i'.  n<')rnw:».lli3  a*  ;?<•> 

ernor  ul   i's  head,  .saMc<i    in    Aluy,  1740,  aniving  at  b'hebucto  iri  '.lu 

Mid  of  JiuKv     Hfre  a  civil  .  uornment   ^vfls  oiganizcd,  Ky  the  v^ 

•I  itmcnt  of  a  coinu:))  to  aid   lh«  (jjovenitv,  aii<l  a  site  huviljg  b(;i'Tr 

-'.,  <  'ovk-'u  was  hud  f»ii  and  vig<.werttsly  [>nshed  to  compltliou, 

'-       »»■  Mahlat  u«s  giv<|ii»  from  ii:!j  title  of  FiSiluf 

•r    '  the  echewif. 


i>Xi 


l:i 


,li;.'li.-^n 


to  U'l '  ■" 


ova  Scotia. 


1 


■Iftcient  Jiromoter  ■  '  the 
,  \o  find  Buthority  toi  '^6y|''  uVy 
;.  Iteyond  the  limn-:  rf  tlfer'jf*niona- 
alsio  much  alunnfM    and  i^^^a""*! 

•   SOtllcmfttlt  H.S  M  i>l!:*X,  W'h  '*'»"••■    (> 


at  the  eslablivlunenl  -A  m»  ^.r.. 

lu  n.'d,  iU''liidiii;,f  ^^'ildiei  .   and  ■    ilois."  al)Out  6.0(M>  jw  ^ifiJe , 


Vii 


intu^  ojwntMi 


l;iidiiia  that   it   friendly  intereourse  und  trade  v^  a. 

isveen  the  Kniilish  c(i|.>'n;<is  ;ind  the  Ac»di»ns,  ;  sud  theit  the  Indiun' 

it'ihcb  wt're   .also   ^uimutim'/  ih<'tns«'lve<«  tO  ,th©    *  ti^tii*  juiwiieti"'^- 


fi,  1747,  wiio  u 
,  six  Bopt  Ividii 
d  mfXi'    iHit-i- 
in,  aHira  '"  '<*  <■! 

lar,  the  ■v^wf'Wiis 

.    "v^     ♦-.    - 

I  . 

any  iniy*ot'tunce 
V  jTtiain^.uned  ai 
to  possess  the 
aiding  th^.-  »av- 
warfare  wkh  tbe 
e  sensible  of  the 
,'f  i^  by  the  Kng- 
ions  be  regained 
it(?of  Massachi;- 
\u\\  of  thi*  rcBuit, 
..!  Englanti,  ihitt 
1(1  becoming  «^oi!- 
A  a  plan  tor  invi- 
itt  the  lat*'  pt'HCf . 
icr  ttid  in  money, 
riusi  offered,  ■11.' t 
11-  ijunilies,  wiif 
nuvftUis  d»  ;r< 
vJliebucto  ii^  '.!i' 
ir.izcd,  by  the  »<> 
jiite  h:i^  ifig  *^'t'* 
cd  In  compltiii>tt» 

3   tilie  oC  FiRl  I  krf 

*■  tlio  pciiefine. 
UBVifivl^aft? 

^  .^-Ih.  uwitupoa 

» ""itx^  o}K>n«*<(  ijl|« 

'vt*t  thr  Indian' 

«•  ,j,.!|  ^ujwlifti""- 


m  w 


•1 


L_ 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


495 


they  at  once  sent  out  secret  orders  adapted  to  put  an  end  to  this 
state  of  things.  Accordingly,  a  year  had  not  passed  after  the  con- 
clusion of  the  treaty,  when  the  English  began  to  be  constantly  har- 
assed by  attacks  from  parties  of  French  and  Indians,  of  so  secret 
and  incessant  a  nature,  as  to  render  it  possible  only  at  the  imminent 
peril  of  life,  to  clear  or  cultivate  land,  or  to  venture  at  all  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  garrison ;  and  those  of  the  Acadians  who  did  not 
join  in  the  active  hostilities  of  the  savages,  discontinued  all  friend'y 
intercourse,  and  fell  into  a  sullen  and  obstinate  neutrality.  This 
state  of  affairs  at  once  put  a  stop  to  the  further  settlement  of  the 
country ;  and  was  made  more  embarrassing  by  the  establishment  at 
Bay  Verte,  just  without  the  peninsula,  of  a  strong  French  garrison, 
whose  situation  on  the  isthmua  entirely  commanded  the  communica- 
tion with  the  main,  and  which  gave  constant  encouragement  and 
refuge  to  the  rebellious  Acadians  and  Indians. 

Hostilities  continued  between  the  English  and  the  French  and  In- 
dians, with  increasing  bitterness  and  violence, until,  in  1755,  war  broke 
out  again  between  England  and  France,  though  not  formally  declared 
until  a  year  later.  The  measures  of  the  French  were  however  suf- 
ficient to  justify  violent  opposition,  for  they  were  steadily  and  rapidly 
pushing  forward  their  chains  of  forts,  and  enlarging  their  sea  and 
land  forces  in  North  America.  Cornwallis  had  been  succeeded  as 
governor  in  1752,  by  Thomas  Hopson,  Esq.,  under  whose  conduct 
one  additional  settlement  was  established  in  Nova  Scotia,  by  some 
Germans,  at  Lunenburg. 

The  first  act  of  war  was  the  taking  of  two  French  frigates,  the 
Alcide  and  the  Lys,  off"  Cape  Race,  by  Admiral  Boscawen,  April  27, 
1755.  In  the  same  spring,  a  well  appointed  expedition  was  or- 
ganized at  Massachusetts,  for  the  purpose  of  driving  the  French 
from  their  encroachments  at  Bay  Verte,  Chiegnecto  and  the  St. 
John.  This  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant-colonel  Monkion,  as- 
sisted by  Lieutenant-colonel  John  Winslow  cf  Massachusetts,  an  offi- 
cer of  great  influence  and  ability;  and  reaching  Chiegnecto  in  June, 
succeeded,  after  one  or  two  spirited  actions,  in  taking  the  French 
fortifications  on  the  Massnguash,  at  Beau  Sejour,  and  on  the  river 
Gaspereaux  at  Bay  Verte.  At  the  same  time  the  fleet  dislodged  the 
French  from  their  stronghold  at  the  mouth  of  the  St,  John  ;  and  the 
objects  of  the  expedition  were  thus  thoroughly  accomplished  with  a 
loss  of  only  twenty  killed  and  as  many  wounded. 

The  campaign  of  1755,  however,  which  opened  so  successfully 
Vol.  IV.— 60. 


496 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


in  Nova  Scotia,  closed  with  gloom  and  disaster.  The  total  defeat 
and  destruction  of  Braddock,  and  the  failure  of  the  expeditions  to 
take  Niagara  and  Crown  Point,  spread  discouragement  and  appre- 
hension throughout  the  colonies,  and  rendered  the  authorities  and 
colonists  of  Nova  Scotia  more  than  ever  fearful  of  their  unfriendly 
neighbors,  the  "  neutral  French"  or  Acadian  settlers.  These  people, 
though  moral,  frugal,  social  and  joyous,  were  dogged  and  sullen  in 
adhering  to  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  and  in  refusing  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  English  crown  ;  and  many  of  them,  aside 
from  their  well-known  constant  secret  aids  to  the  Indian  hostilities, 
had  been  found  openly  bearing  arms  against  the  English.  So  pro- 
found were  the  fears  entertained  of  some  attempts  from  them  or  with 
their  aid,  to  take  advantage  of  the  feeble  and  dispirited  state  of  the 
English,  and  to  destroy  all  the  settlements  in  Nova  Scotia,  that  Gov- 
ernor Lawrence,  his  council,  and  Admirals  Boscavven  and  Moystyn, 
after  mature  deliberation,  resolved  upon  a  measure  calculated  to 
relieve  the  colony  at  once  and  forever  of  its  fears  from  these  disaf- 
fected people ;  and  which,  however  severe  it  may  seem,  was  coun- 
tenanced by  many  considerations  which  were  admitted  to  be  pow- 
erful and  substantial  at  that  time,  though  it  is  difficult  to  estimate 
them  as  such  now.  This  measure  was  nothing  less  than  the  confis- 
cation of  the  real  and  most  of  the  personal  property  of  the  Acadian 
or  neutral  French  settlers  of  Nova  Scotia,  the  removal  of  all  of 
them  from  the  province,  and  their  thorough  dispersion  among  the 
other  British  colonies  of  America. 

This  determination  was  carried  into  effect  by  Col.  Winslow  and 
the  provincial  troops,  who  sent  away  seven  thousand  in  all  of  the 
Acadians,  being  much  the  greater  part  of  the  whole  French  popula- 
tion of  Nova  Scotia.  Tlie  unhappy  Acadians  submitted  in  general 
to  this  severe  fate  with  surprising  caltnness,  although  suffering  all 
the  misery  naturally  felt  by  a  domestic  and  home-loving  people,  sud- 
denly deprived  of  their  all,  and  thrust  forth  among  strangers  in  dis- 
tant lands.  Absolute  force,  or  at  least  the  preparation  for  it,  was 
necessary,  before  they  would  go  on  board  the  vessels  prepared  for 
them ;  in  some  parts  of  the  country  their  houses  were  burned  and 
their  farms  devastated  before  they  could  be  made  to  give  themselves 
up ;  and  while  a  detachment  was  burning  a  chapel  at  one  of  the  set- 
tlements on  the  Peticodiac,  a  number  of  the  French,  infuriated  at 
this  sacrilege,  rushed  suddenly  from  their  concealment  and  attacked 
and  drove  off  the  provincials,  killing  twenty-three,  and  wounding 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


497 


eleven  more.  These  involuntary  emigrants  were  distributed  throutrh- 
out  the  whole  vast  range  of  the  American  colonies,  in  bodies  of  from 
two  hundred  to  a  thousand  each.  In  their  new  homes  they  were 
peaceful  and  harmless,  but  unhappy,  spiritless  and  unprosperous ; 
and  after  a  generation  or  two,  their  individuality  became  lost  by  ex- 
tinction or  fusion  among  the  American  population.  In  INIassachu- 
setts,  Pennsylvania,  Georgia,  or  even  in  the  more  friendly  French 
colony  of  Louisiana,  to  which  some  of  theh^.  fled,  they  remained 
faithful  to  their  own  northern  home,  and  some  of  them  even  assem- 
bled and  set  out  on  the  desperate  enterprise  of  returning  to  Nova 
Scotia.  They  were  however  stopped  by  the  British  authorities,  and 
driven  back  to  their  exile. 

In  October,  1758,  after  a  campaign  on  the  whole  prosperous,  and 
which  had  much  relieved  Nova  Scotia  by  the  second  reduction  of 
Louisbourg  and  Cape  Breton,  and  that  of  Prince  Edward's  Island, 
the  first  House  of  Assembly  met,  having  been  elected  under  instruc- 
tions sent  out  to  Governor  Lawrence  long  before,  but  whose  fulfill- 
ment had  been  postponed  by  him  on  account  of  the  war.  While 
settling  into  a  routine  of  business,  there  were  some  trifling  disagree- 
ments between  the  Assembly  and  the  Governor's  Council,  which 
were  mostl}'  soon  arranged,  and  the  province  thus  became  possessed 
of  a  representative  government. 

Simultaneously  with  the  meeting  of  the  legislature,  Gov.  Law- 
rence issued  a  proclamation  setting  forth  the  agricultural  advantages 
of  Nova  Scotia,  and  inviting  settlers  from  the  older  colonies ;  and 
shortly  afterwards  another,  explaining  the  political  privileges  of  the 
people,  and  the  policy  of  the  government ;  a  paper  so  important  that 
it  has  been  called  "  The  Charter  of  Nova  Scoti..,"  and  whose  views 
and  assurances  were  so  wise  and  liberal,  that  j  A^fge  number  of  set> 
tiers  were  attracted  into  the  country. 


498 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


CHAPTER    I?, 


TAKING   OF  QUEBEC.  —  TREATY  WITH  THE  MOXGUASII  TRIBE. — 
CAPE    BRETON    A    SEPARATE    GOVERNMENT    FOR   A    TIME. — 
AMERICAN  COLONIES  TRY  TO   DETACH  NOVA  SCOTIA  FROM 
ENGLAND.  —  LOYALIST  REFUGEES. — AMERICAN  PRIVA- 
TEERS.—  LANDSPECULATIONS  IN  1781. — MAROONS  FROM 
JAMAICA.  —  GOV-  WENTWORTII. — GOV.  SHERBROOKE. 
— WAR  OF  1812. — LORDDALHOUSIE. — SIR  J  AMES  KEMPT. 
—  EARL    OF   MULGRAVE.  —  VISIT    OF    PRINCE  OF 

WALES. — REJOICINGS  AT  HALIFAX. ENTHU  - 

SIASM. —  JOURNEY   TO  WINDSOR. 


I\  1759,  the  British  conquest  of  Canada,  sealed  by  the  taking  of 
Quebec,  definitely  assured  to  England  the  undisturbed  possession  of 
the  vast  territories  hitherto  held  by  France  in  North  America, 
though  the  French  governor  held  out  until  another  campaign ;  and 
powerfully  promoted  the  prosperity  of  Nova  Scotia,  by  finally  re- 
lieving it  of  the  dangerous  neighborhood  of  the  French  power. 
Great  rejoicings  were  made  over  the  capitulation  of  Quebec,  at 
Halifax  especially. 

In  1761,  an  important  treaty  was  made  with  Joseph  Argimault  or 
Avgimooch,  and  his  tribe,  the  Monguash  Indians,  and  a  .system  of 
authorized  trading  houses,  with  regulated  prices  for  furs  and  goods, 
agreed  on,  which  did  very  much  to  protect  the  Indians  from  the  base 
frauds  and  abuses  inflicted  on  them  by  private  traders,  and  to  free  the 
colony  from  the  hostilities  which  were  their  natural  consequence. 

The  wise  policy  of  Governor  Lawrence  had  secured  the  invita- 
tion of  farmers  as  immigrants,  instead  of  the  disbanded  soldiers 
whom  the  home  government  had  sent  to  Halifax,  and  were  intending 
to  establish  elsewhere ;  and  when  the  peace  of  Paris,  in  1763,  })ut 
an  end  to  the  war,  Nova  Scotia  was  peaceful,  free  from  apprehen- 
sions of  enemies  either  at  home  or  abroad,  and  firmly  established  in 
the  beginning  of  a  career  of  prosperity  which  has  continued  almost 
unbroken  to  the  present  day. 

In  1765,  the  island  of  Cape  Breton  was  made  a  county  of  Nova 
Scotia,  with  the  privilege  of  choosing  absentees  as  representatives 
in  the  assembly ;  and  so  remained  until  1784.     In  that  year  it  was 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


490 


made  a  separate  government,  but  was  reannexed  as  a  county  to 
Nova  Scotia  in  1819,  and  so  remains. 

When  the  American  revolution  broke  out,  efibrts  were  made  to 
enlist  Nova  Scotia  on  the  side  of  the  other  revolting  colonies,  but 
without  success.  The  militia  were  put  in  readiness  to  defend  the 
country  if  invaded,  a  declaration  of  attachment  to  government  and 
determination  to  defend  it,  extensively  signed,  the  inhabitants  made 
to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  other  efficient  measures  taken  to 
retain  it  under  the  crown.  As  loyalist  refugees  from  New  England 
and  elsewhere  began  to  come  in,  government  appropriations  were 
made  for  their  support,  gratuitous  grants  of  land  were  given  them, 
and  every  effort  made  to  fix  them  in  comfortable  situations.  As  the 
American  revolt  seemed  to  be  spreading  northward  by  Montgomery's 
expedition  into  Canada,  martial  law  was  proclaimed  in  November, 
and  a  little  afterwards,  a  bill  was  passed  prohibiting  all  intercourse 
with  the  revolted  colonies.  Some  small  troubles  were  excited  by 
disaffected  persons  during  the  war  in  some  parts  of  the  province. 
Disorders  broke  out  in  Cumberland  in  the  spring  of  1776  ;  privateers 
occasionally  made  descents  upon  the  coast ;  the  inhabitants  of  Truro, 
Onslow  and  Londonderry,  refusing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
were  prosecuted,  and  disfranchised  ;  an  expedition  in  two  whale- 
boats  from  Machias  seized  an  armed  merchant  ship  at  Pictou,  and 
were  preparing  to  invade  Prince  Edward's  Island,  when  they  were 
fortunately  captured ;  in  1779,  the  Indians  on  the  St.  John  River 
gathered  in  large  numbers,  and  threatened  to  make  war  on  the  Eng- 
lish, but  were  quieted  by  the  promise  of  some  presents.  All  these 
were  however  only  temporary  difficulties. 

A  more  serious  check  was  given  to  the  prosperity  of  the  prov- 
ince in  1781,  by  the  removal  from  it  of  many  persons,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  failure  of  a  great  number  of  land  jobbing  speculations  ; 
insomuch  that  the  total  population  was  reduced  from  18,000  or  20,000, 
to  about  12,000,  not  including  the  refugee  loyalists,  the  whole  num- 
ber of  whom  entering  Nova  Scotia  during  the  war  was  estimated  at 
the  large  total  of  18,000.  More  than  two  thousand  ..lore  arrived  in 
Oct.  1783;  at  which  time  the  whole  population  was  11,300  English 
and  French,  and  10,000  refugees. 

In  1784,  New  Brunswick  and  Cape  Breton  were  made  separate 
governments,  which  reduced  Nova  Scotia  to  the  limits  of  the  penin- 
sular; but  so  rapid  had  been  the  inffux  from  abroad,  that  in  the  same 
year  the  total  population  was  still  20,100.     In  1785,  about  two  bun- 


500 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


dred  negroes,  freed  by  the  British  forces,  were  brought  from  St.  Au- 
gustine, but  in  a  most  destitute  condition. 

A  somewhat  similar  and  not  more  useful  accession  to  the  popula- 
tion was  a  colony  of  about  COO  maroons,  or  revolted  slaves,  brought 
from  Jamaica,  after  iiaving  maintained  quite  a  war  there  against  the 
whites. 

Under  Governor  Wentworth,  who  was  appointed  in  1792,  the 
great  western  road  to  Pictou  was  opened ;  a  laborious  but  very  use- 
ful undertaking.  Many  improvements  in  the  public  business,  school 
system,  militia,  and  trade  and  commerce  of  the  province,  were  intro- 
duced by  the  able  and  wise  exertions  of  Governor  Prevost,  who  suc- 
ceeded Wentworth  in  1808.  During  the  war  of  1812,  Sir  John 
Coape  Shei'brooke  was  governor ;  an  officer  of  eminent  wisdom  and 
ability.  The  province  was  doubtless  saved  from  much  of  the  suf- 
fering incident  to  hostilities,  by  the  energy  with  which  a  portion  of 
the  territory  of  Maine  was  occupied,  and  the  governor's  proclama- 
tion forbidding  all  persons  to  molest  its  inhabitants.  During  this 
war,  Halifax  was  the  principal  station  and  depot  for  the  British  ves- 
sels of  war  on  the  American  coast.  The  administration  of  the  Earl 
of  Dalhousie  extended  from  1816  to  1820.  His  affable  manners 
and  amiable  character  rendered  him  much  beloved  by  the  Nova 
Scotians.  Under  his  authority  a  central  board  of  agriculture  was 
formed  at  Halifax.  Dalhousie  College  was  founded  at  the  same 
place,  and  endowed  with  nearly  £  10,000  ;  a  library  established  there 
for  the  use  of  the  army,  and  many  other  useful  measures  originated 
or  continued.  Sir  James  Kempt,  Lord  Dalhousie's  successor,  was 
an  excellent  administrative  officer,  and  under  his  vigorous  and  or- 
derly management,  the  business  interests  of  the  province  advanced 
rapidly  in  importance.  Among  the  undertakings  which  signalized 
his  government,  may  be  mentioned  the  establishment  of  a  bank,  a 
commercial  society,  and  a  chamber  of  commerce,  at  Halifax;  the 
commencement  of  the  Shubenacadie  canal,  and  the  establishment 
of  a  line  of  packets  between  Halifax  and  Liverpool,  and  of  a  fishery 
in  the  South  Pacific. 

The  succession  of  good  governors  has  been  well  maintained  by 
the  later  chief  officers  of  the  province ;  and  the  present  governor, 
the  Earl  of  Mulgrave,  a  popular  and  able  nobleman,  has  rendered 
himself  much  respected  and  beloved  by  his  earnest  and  eflicient  care 
of  the  best  interests  of  the  province. 

The  administration  of  Lord  Mulgrave  has  been  signalized  by  an 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


501 


event  of  very  uncommon  interest  and  importance  in  the  historv  of  the 
British  colonies  in  North  America,  the  visit  of  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
during  the  year  1800.  The  Prince  crossed  from  St.  Johns,  Newfound- 
land, in  the  steamship  of  the  line  Hero,  and  disembarked  at  Halifax 
July  30,  I860,  amidst  the  thundering  of  a  royal  salute,  the  cheers  of  the 
crews  of  six  men-of-war,  and  a  fine  display  of  flags  from  all  the  ship- 
ping. He  was  received  by  Admiral  Sir  Alexander  Milne,  command- 
ing the  British  fleet,  and  the  Earl  of  Mulgrave,  who  attended  him  to 
the  royal  dockyard,  where  the  mayor  of  the  city  read  an  address, 
welcoming  him  to  Halifax.  A  long  procession  then  escorted  the 
Prince  to  the  Government  House,  where  a  chorus  of  3,500  children 
from  the  city  schools  received  him  with  the  national  anthem,  and  the 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  read  a  second  address.  The 
festivities  of  the  day  were  closed  by  a  dinner  at  the  Government 
House.  The  next  day  was  devoted  to  a  grand  review  of  the  regular 
troops  and  volunteers,  to  the  witnessing  of  some  Indian  races  and 
war-dances  by  a  Micmac  tribe,  and  a  splendid  ball  at  the  Province 
Building,  which  the  Prince  opened  by  a  quadrille,  which  !ia  danced 
with  a  niece  of  the  President  of  the  council.  The  third  day  of  the 
visit  was  devoted  to  a  full  dress  levee  at  the  Government  House,  a 
regatta  in  the  harbor,  and  a  visit  to  the  estate  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  bay,  formerly  owned  by  his  grandfather  the  Duke  of  Kent,  and 
by  him  laid  out  with  excellent  taste  and  managed  with  skill. 

The  enthusiasm  and  joy  which  pervaded  the  city  of  Halifax  during 
this  visit  were  wonderful ;  shops  were  closed,  business  suspended,  the 
streets  decorated  with  handsome  triumphal  arche^^decked  with  ever- 
green, and  immense  crowds  attended  the  young  representative  and 
future  wearer  of  the  imperial  crown  of  England  as  he  moved  or 
stopped,  cheering  him  or  observing  him,  but  still  without  impeding 
his  motions.  On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  he  took  the  cars 
with  his  suite  for  Windsor,  where  he  was  received  by  a  guard  of 
honor,  and  a  well-written  address,  and  where  he  delayed  to  partake 
of  a  handsome  breakfast,  at  which  loyal  and  patriotic  toasts  were 
given  to  the  Queen,  the  Prince  Consort,  and  the  Prince  of  Wales. 
From  this  place  he  rode  by  carriage  to  Hantsport,  where  he  em- 
barked on  the  Styx  steamer  for  St.  John,  N.  B. 


502  AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


uflAiriJcjii      V, 

HALIFAX. PUBLIC     BUILDINGS.  —  ROYAL     DOCKYARD.  —  EX- 
CELLENCE OF  HARBOR. — BUSINESS   ADVANTAGES. — SOCIE- 
TY   AND    AlIUSEMENTS.  —  COMMERCE    AND    SHIPPING. — 
PICTOU;  ITS  COMMERCE.  —  PICTOU  COLLEGE. — LIVER- 
POOL.—  FISHERIES. —  SHELBURNE. —  SINGULAR  HIS- 
TORY.—  ANNAPuLIS. WINDSOR. — DIG  BY;    "DIG- 
BY  CHICKENS." — LUNENBURG. — SABLE  ISLAND. 

Halifax,  the  political  and  business  capital  of  Nova  Scotia,  stands  on 
the  eastern  slope  of  a  peninsular  extending  into  the  harbor  from  its 
western  side,  and  occupies  n.  space  about  2^  miles  long  by  a  mile  wide. 
It  is  well  laid  out,  with  wide  straight  streets,  and  presents  an  attractive 
spectacle  from  the  water,  rising  from  the  wharves,  crowded  with  ship- 
ping and  thronged  with  business,  up  the  side  of  the  hill.  Many  of  its 
buildings  are  handsome  edifices  of  brick  or  stone,  erected  in  place  of 
wooden  ones  burned  down.  Among  the  many  handsome  public  build- 
ings which  ornament  i*,  one  of  the  finest  is  the  Province  Building,  which 
stands  in  the  central  part  of  the  city,  in  a  square  inclosed  with  a  handsome 
railing.  It  is  140  feet  long,  70  broad,  and  45  high,  of  the  Ionic  style, 
and  extremely  well  built  of  fine  Nova  Scotia  freestone,  finely  polished. 
It  contains  apartnients  for  the  council,  the  assembly,  the  supreme 
court,  and  the  various  provincial  otfices.  St.  Paul's  church  is  a  large 
and  hand.some  building,  with  a  tall  spire ;  and  several  others  of  the 
churches  are  edifices  of  imposing  exterior.  The  roval  dockyard, 
which  occui)ies  fourteen  acres  of  ground,  is  the  largest  and  best 
equipped  naval  establishment  on  the  continent.  The  noble  capacity 
and  accessibility  of  the  harbor,  caused  it  to  be  very  early  selected  as 
the  leading  maritime  station  for  the  British  fieet  in  North  America, 
and  it  is  amply  fitted  up  with  extensive  store-houses,  and  vast  sup- 
plies for  refitting  men-of-war.  Above  it  on  an  eminence  commanding 
a  fine  view  of  the  yard,  the  harbor,  the  telegra[)hs  and  the  shij)ping,  is 
a  handsome  stone  edifice  used  as  a  residence  for  the  admiral  com- 
manding on  the  American  station.  Besides  the  dockyard,  there  are 
ordnance  and  commissariat  stores,  a  military  liospital,  barracks,  and 
all  the  accommodations  necessary  for  the  force  of  several  rcgimtMits 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


503 


usually  kept  here.  The  harbor  of  Halifax  is  one  of  the  best  in  the 
world,  stretching  up  into  the  country  for  15  miles,  being  never  ob- 
structed except  by  ice,  and  that  very  rarely.  It  is  a  mile  wide  in 
front  of  the  city,  where  vessels  usually  anchor,  but  further  up  it  ex^ 
pands  into  Bedford  Basin,  a  broad  and  majestic  sheet  of  water  ten  square 
miles  in  extent,  und  amply  able  to  accommodate  the  entire  navy  of 
Great  Britain.  Its  entrance  is  indicated  by  two  light-houses,  one  on 
Sambro  Island,  132  feet  above  the  sea,  and  one  further  up,  on  Siier- 
brook  Tower,  at  Manger's  Beach,  58  feet  above  the  sea.  As  an  im- 
portant, political,  military  and  naval  station,  Halifax  is  well  defended 
by  various  powerful  forts  and  batteries.  Its  position  .s  a  central 
seaport,  and  its  extensive  communication  by  steam  with  the  whole 
Atlantic  coast  of  North  America  and  the  West  Indies,  and  by  the  Cunard 
line  with  England,  and  as  the  Atlantic  terminus  of  the  great  railway 
from  Quebec,  are  rapidly  increasing  its  commerce  and  population, 
and  with  them  its  wealth,  and  its  supply  of  all  the  luxuries  of  city 
civilization.  Its  dwellings  are  now  supplied  with  water  from  a  reser- 
voir, and  with  gas-light ;  and  it  communicates  with  the  telegraph  system 
of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  Society  in  Halifax  is  enlivened  by 
the  constant  presence  of  military  and  naval  officers ;  the  citizens 
themselves  are  of  an  uncommonly  high  grade  of  education  and  intel- 
ligence;  and  the  remarkable  beauty  of  the  ladies,  and  their  elegance 
and  culture,  render  the  city  an  exceedingly  pleasant  residence.  Par- 
ties, balls,  soirees,  theatrical  exiiibitions,  amateur  theatricals,  regattas, 
races,  riding,  shooting,  fishing,  skating,  and  driving,  are  amusements 
ardently  pursued. 

The  exports  of  Halifax  in  1852-3,  were  £5(59,385;  and  the  imports, 
1851,  £859,080.  There  are  owned  in  the  city,  over  100  square- 
rigged  vessels,  as  many  schooners,  and  an  immense  number  of  small 
craft.  The  population  was,  in  1814,  22,000  ;  in  184G,  23,500;  in  1852, 
20,000 ;  and  is  now  estimated  at  more  than  3'^. 000. 

Pictou,  an  important  and  flourishing  scapo. :,  stonds  on  the  north 
side  of  Pictou  harbor,  and  about  three  miles  from  the  sea.  It  is 
built  irregularly  on  the  slope  of  a  hill,  and  occupies  a  pleasant  and 
healthy  site.  From  the  summit  behind  the  town,  there  is  a  mag- 
nificent view  of  the  farming  country  around,  of  the  wooded  lands 
further  otf,  the  Culf,  and  the  harbor,  which  is  the  finest  on  the  whole 
souilierii  coast  of  the  Gulf.  Pictou  has  an  extensive  and  growing 
trade,  chiefly  in  the  coal  and  building-stones  of  the  vicinity.  It  is  a 
well-buil:  place ;  and  contains  an  excellent  grammar  school,  and  a  good 


504 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


academy,  commonly  called  "  Pictou  College,"  and  open  to  all  denom- 
inations of  Christians.  Pictou  was  settled  in  1790,  and  has  now  a 
population  of  nearly  3,000,  which  is  increasing. 

Liverpool,  formerly  called  Port  Rossignol,  is  situated  eighty  miles 
west  of  Halifax,  at  the  head  of  a  good  harbor,  which  is  never  frozen 
over.  The  town  is  remarkably  well  laid  out,  and  the  houses  large, 
well-built  and  comfortable.  Many  vessels  concerned  in  the  fisheries, 
and  in  the  English  and  West  India  trade,  are  owned  here,  and  con- 
siderable quantities  of  lumber  are  floated  down  by  the  Mersey  river, 
in  the  spring,  from  the  interior. 

The  town  of  Shelburne  possesses  a  certain  interest,  rather  from  its 
past  history  than  its  present  condition.  Its  harbor,  often  called  the 
finest  in  America,  so  attracted  the  attention  of  the  loyalists  then  enter- 
ing the  province  from  the  United  States,  that  in  1783  twelve  thousand 
of  them  selected  a  site,  laid  out  a  plan,  and  as  it  were  instantaneously 
erected  a  magnificent  town,  with  public  buildings,  barracks,  &c. ; 
expecting  that  their  elegant  buildings,  good  society,  and  supposed 
commercial  advantages,  would  attract  inhabitants  from  all  parts  of 
the  province,  bring  in  an  extensive  commerce,  and  quite  extinguish 
Halifax.  It  was  computed  that  £500,000  were  sunk  in  the  speculation, 
which  failed  entirely  ;  the  settlers,  gaining  no  additions  to  their  number, 
either  returned  to  the  United  States  or  went  to  other  parts  of  the 
province,  and  the  town,  inhabited  by  a  comparatively  small  population, 
contains  many  memorials  of  this  unfortunate  beginning. 

Annapolis,  formerly  Port  Royal,  the  first  metropolis  of  the  province, 
and  one  of  the  oldest  European  settlements  in  North  Amerfca,  occupies 
a  point  of  land  between  Annapolis  River  and  the  small  river  called 
Allen's,  or  LeQuille.  It  was  settled  by  De  Monts  in  1004  ;  and  was 
the  capital  of  Nova  Scotia  until  1750,  when  Halifnx  was  built. 
It  is  compactly  built ;  contains  several  respectable  |)ublic  buildings, 
churches,  «fcc.,  and  the  moldering  remains  of  the  ancient  French  fort, 
which  arc  still  occupied  by  a  company  of  soldiers,  furnish  an  agreea- 
ble promenade  to  the  inhabitants. 

Windsor,  the  shire  town  of  Hants  county,  stands  at  the  confluence 
of  three  rivers,  the  Avon,  Windsor  and  St.  Croix,  occupying  an 
extremely  i)ictures(pio  situation.  It  is  very  neat  in  appearance,  and 
contains  several  churches,  a  court  iiouse  and  jail,  and  a  good  hotel. 
Near  the  town,  on  a  lofty  and  beautiful  site,  stands  King's  College, 
and  the  collegiate  school  connected  with  it. 

Digby  is  a  nourishing  little  town  at  the  entrance  of  Annapolis  Basin, 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


505 


much  occupied  with  the  fishing  business.  The  peculiar  small  fat 
herrings  smokr  '  here,  have  a  wide-spread  and  high  reputation  under 
the  odd  title  -        Digby  chickens." 

Lunenburg,  ,-hire  town  of  the  county  of  the  same  name,  about  50 
miles  west  ot  lialifax,  is  on  the  west  side  of  Mahon  Bay,  and  was 
settled  in  1751  by  Germans  and  Swiss,  induced  by  a  proclamation  of 
the  British  Government ;  an  industrious  and  thriving  race,  who  are 
rising  to  wealth  by  agriculture,  and  the  lumber  and  fish  trade.  They 
still  talk  German,  and  retain  many  of  their  native  manners  and  customs. 
The  Indian  name  of  the  locality  was  Malaguash  or  Merliguash. 

Numerous  othei'  thriving  towns  and  villages  dot  the  surface  and 
coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  of  which  our  space  allows  no  particular  mention. 

Nova  Scotia  has  several  insular  dependencies  of  interest.  A 
subsequent  separate  chapter  gives  an  account  of  Cape  Breton,  the 
largest  of  them.  The  most  remarkable  remaining  one.  Sable  Island, 
is  a  solitary  sand  bank,  in  the  ocean,  about  90  miles  south-east  of  the 
easternmost  end  of  Nova  Scotia.  It  is  about  25  miles  long  and  1} 
broad,  and  consists  entirely  of  low  hills  of  sand.  One  of  these,  the 
loftiest,  is  about  100  feet  high,  and  notwithstanding  its  exposure  to  the 
teinj)esls  of  that  stormy  region,  is  increasing.  There  are  no  trees,  and 
no  shrubs  larger  than  a  whortleberry  bush  ;  the  island  being  mostly 
covered  with  a  strong  "  bent"  grass,  and  having  many  cranberry  vines 
in  the  hollows.  Lying  in  the  track  of  vessels  between  Europe  and 
Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick  and  the  United  States,  it  has  been  the 
scene  of  many  dreadful  shipwrecks,  most  of  the  crews  cast  away 
upon  it  having  entirely  perished.  A  family  is  maintained  upon  the 
island,  whose  head  is  a  superintendent,  whose  duty  it  is  to  aid  all 
persons  wrecked  there,  and  maintain  them  until  an  opportunity 
occurs  to  dei)art.  As  many  as  three  hundred  shipwrecked  persons 
have  been  on  the  Island  at  one  time,  all  supported  by  the  government 
provisions.  There  is  no  harh<ir ;  no  crop  can  be  rai.sed  except  a  lew 
cabbages ;  and  no  animals  except  the  sea-birds  and  seals,  a  herd  of 
several  hundred  wild  horses,  and  vast  numbers  of  rabbits  ;  both  the 
latter  being  descendants  of  progenitors  placed  there  for  the  sake  of 
their  llesh. 


506 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


T) 


CHAPTEH   ?L 


GEOGRAPHY  OF  NOVA  SCOTIA. — SCENERY. — LAKES. — MOUNTAINS- 
GEOLOGY. —  PRIMITIVE  ROCKS, —  SECONDARY  ROCKS. —  NATIVE 
ANIMALS. — HEALTHINESS   OF    C  LI  M  ATE.  — C  HARACTER   OF 
SEASONS. — SOIL;  ITS  DISTRIBUTION. — FRUITS.  —  AGRI- 
CULTURAL CAPACITY. — CROPS. —  STATISTICS. —  BOARD 
OF  AGRICULTURE. —  MANUFACTURES. —  COMMERCE. 
— MINING. —  FISHERIES.  —  RAILROADS. 


Nova  Scotia  is  connected  with  New  Brunswick  by  an  isthmus  onlv 
about  15  miles  wide ;  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  to  the  west  of  this 
isthmus  by  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  to  the  east  of  it  by  Northumber- 
land strait,  which  separates  it  from  Prince  Edwai'd's  Island,  and  hy 
the  Gut  of  Canseau,  which  separates  it  from  the  island  of  Cape  Breton. 
To  the  south  and  south-west  it  is  bounded  by  the  Atlantic  ocean.  It 
is  about  300  miles  long,  and  from  forty  to  one  hundred  wide,  containinj^ 
15,617  square  miles,  or  9,994,880  acres.  Its  surface  is  undulatinsr 
but  not  mountainous,  there  being  no  hill  higher  than  about  1,000  feet. 
The  ridges  of  high  land,  which  are  sometimes  called  mountains,  usually 
run  north  and  south,  sometimes  e.iding  in  cliffs  on  the  coast,  or  falling 
gradually  to  the  general  level  of  the  country.  The  scenery  is  pleasant 
and  picturesque,  and  agreeably  diversified  by  meadows,  lakes  and 
streams,  or  by  the  bold  and  rocky  character  of  the  coasts  and  islands, 
and  the  numerous  harbors  and  arms  of  the  sea.  The  southern  coast 
is  rough  and  rocky  ;  much  of  the  northern  is  comparatively  low.  tSo 
numerous  and  well  distributed  are  the  bays  and  inlets,  and  the  rivers 
and  lakes  of  the  interior,  that  scarcely  any  part  of  the  country  is 
thirty  miles  distant  from  navigation.  The  largest  of  the  numerous 
lakes  of  Nova  Scotia  is  Lake  Kossignol,  near  Liverpool,  about  thirty 
miles  in  length.  In  the  single  townshij)  of  Yarmouth  there  arc  eiglity 
of  these  lakes,  one  of  which  is  nearly  as  large  as  Lake  Kossignol. 
In  many  parts  ol  the  country  they  lie  in  chains  connected  by  water- 
courses in  such  a  manner  as  to  alVord  great  facilities  for  travelin*;. 
In  the  southern  part  of  the  province  there  are  n)any  <)xtensive  tracts 
of  stony  and  barren  land,  without  trees,  and  incajtable  of  cultivation  ; 
and  here  and  there  are  to  be  found  small  peat  bogs,  often  in  basins 
among  the  hills.     In  these  bogs  are  found  many  trunks  of  trees,  upright 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


507 


as  they  formerly  grew,  and  preserved  from  decay  by  the  waters  and 
mosses  vvhich  killed  them,  and  have  accumulated  about  them  for 
centuries.  Some  tracts  of  country  have  been  burnt  over  by  fires, 
and  present  a  dreary  spectacle  of  ashes  and  death,  until  another 
growth  of  trees,  which  are  always  of  a  species  quite  distinct  from 
those  destroyed.'.springs  up  in  their  place. 

Nova  Scotia  has  no  mountains  high  enough  to  deserve  the  name,  the 
the  most  elevated  land  within  it  being  Ardoise  mountain,  so  called,  on 
the  road  from  Halifax  to  Windsor,  which  is  no  more  than  700  feet 
high.*  A  range  of  hills  separates  Annapolis  basin  and  Argyll,  and  two 
others  bound  the  valley  of  Annapolis  river,  running  parallel  with  the 
coast  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  The  most  important  other  eminences 
are  Morton  Mountain,  Aspotogan,  Cape  Porcupine,  Mount  Tom,  and 
the  Cobequid  range. 

The  geology  of  Nova  Scotia  is  interesting,  from  the  remarkable 
variety  of  its  rocks.  The  primitive  rocks  occupy  the  range  of 
Atlantic  counties  from  Yarmouth  to  Halifax,  extending  two-thirds  of 
the  distance  across  the  peninsula  toward  the  Bay  of  Fundy  ;  including 
granite,  quaitz,  clay,  slate,  and  mica  slate,  sienite  and  gneiss.  Many 
of  the  rocks  of  these  formations  are  valuable  for  building,  millstones, 
&c.;  but  have  thus  far  been  but  little  worked.  Two  irregular  beds 
of  Silurian  rocks  extend,  one  along  the  Cobequid  range,  and  the  other 
inland  along  the  northern  edge  of  the  primary  formation,  from  Digby 
county  to  Sytlney  county,  the  whole  length  of  the  peninsular.  The 
rocks  of  these  formations  are  slates,  shales, grits,  limestones, greenstone 
and  porphyry;  and  at  various  points  in  it  are  found  iron,lead«and  cop- 
j)er  ore,  roofing  slate,  &,c.  That  part  of  the  province  not  occupied  by 
the  primitive  and  silurian  rocks,  mostly  belongs  to  the  carboniferous 
system,  and  may  be  said  to  lie  upon  the  silurian  rocks,  which  rise 
through  them  in  the  area;>  they  occupy  as  just  described.  This  forma- 
tion in  Nova  Scotia  includes  red  and  gray  sandstones,  various  shales 
and  conglomerates,  gypsum,  limestone  and  coal. 

At  the  discovery  of  Nova  Scotia,  all  kinds  of  wild  beasts  were 
plentiful ;  they  have  however  of  course  decreased  as  the  country  has 
been  settled.  IMie  native  animals  were  the  nutose,  caribou,  bear, 
fox,  lynx,  weasi'l,  martin,  otter,  mink,  fisher,  woodchuck.  hurt',  raccoon, 
porcupine,  mouse,  bat,  mole,  beaver,  and  muskrat.  The  birds  are  the 
numerous  varieties  belonging  to  temperate  regions;  including  the 
eagle,  owl,   hawk,  crow,  jay,  blackbird,  robin,  thrush,  wood|)eck(!r, 

*  I.nter  surveys  luive  howovor  givi-n  a  liiglit  of  about  1,100  foot  to  sonio  parts  of  the 
(Jobt'quid  raiijcc 


508 


AMERICA    ILIaUSTRATED. 


wren,  swallow,  whippovvil,  duck,  goose,  plover,  kingfisher,  and  too 
many  others  to  be  here  enumerated,  both  of  the  carnivorous  and 
graminiverous  species. 

The  climate  of  Nova  Scotia  is  cold  but  healthy ;  although  its  ex- 
tremes are  much  modified  by  the  proximity  of  the  ocean.  The  win- 
ter does  not  usually  set  in  with  severity  until  about  the  20th  of 
December,  from  which  time  until  the  beginning  of  April,  the  earth 
is  frozen,  and  the  snow  deep.  In  January,  however,  there  is  usually 
a  thaw.  February  is  the  coldest  month.  By  the  end  of  May  or 
beginning  of  June,  there  is  pasturage  ;  vegetation  is  extremely  rapid 
when  it  has  started,  and  the  summer  follows  fast  after  the  spring. 
Its  heat  is  usually  moderate,  the  temperature  being  highest  in  August, 
but  the  nights  seldom  too  hot  for  comfort.  The  autumn  is  a  delight- 
ful season,  the  sky  and  atmosphere  being  usually  clear  and  unclouded, 
the  days  like  those  of  June,  and  the  nights  cool  and  comfortable. 
Some  winters  are  very  mild  throughout,  and  almost  without  snow. 
Spring  is  the  most  rainy  season  ;  and  in  summer,  there  is  some  fog 
along  the  southern  and  south-western  coast,  but  it  does  not  extend 
far  inland.  The  general  salubrity  of  the  climate  is  strikingly  shown  by 
the  fact  that  healthy  and  active  men  and  women  ninety  or  a  hundred 
ycnrs  of  age  are  singlarly  numerous. 

Of  the  soil  of  Nova  Scotia,  ten-twelfths  are  reckoned  capable  of 
cultivation,  more  than  half  of  the  whole  being  of  a  superior  quality. 
The  poor  land  lies  mostly  in  a  belt  along  the  whole  southern  coast, 
from  Cape  Canseau  round  to  Cape  Fourchu,  in  that  range  of  rocky 
country  which  borders  the  sea.  The  forests  which  originally  cover- 
ed the  country,  consisted  of  birch,  elm,  ash,  hemlock,  maple,  spruce, 
pine,  beech,  poplar,  and  oak,  with  other  smaller  trees.  The  best  land 
is  in  the  intervales  along  the  streams,  on  select  parts  of  ui)laiid,  and 
in  the  wonderfully  fertile  tracts  of  marsh  on  the  rivers  which  empty 
into  the  Basin  of  Minas  and  in  some  other  places,  which  after  being 
dyked  and  drained,  produce  very  heavy  crops  year  after  year,  with- 
out manuring.  Of  the  crops  raised,  wheat  requires  very  careful  cul- 
ture ;  while  oats,  rye,  barley  and  beans,  yield  abundant  and  certain 
crops.  Indian  corn  yields  well.  All  root  crops  thrive  remarkably ; 
and  the  Nova  Scotia  potatoes  are  scarcely  equaled  in  excellence  nor 
surpassed  in  yield  by  those  of  any  other  country.  Cattle  and  sheep 
grow  well,  and  are  of  excellentquality.  Horses  are  hardy  and  aclive, 
but  the  breed  requires  to  be  occasionally  crossed  with  some  superior 
one,  or  it  degenerates. 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


509 


The  fruits  of  temperate  regions,  apples,  pears,  cherries,  plums, 
quinces,  and  all  the  berry  tribe,  flourish,  but  the  peach  will  not  suc- 
ceed except  in  some  of  the  warmest  and  most  sheltered  localities. 

On  the  whole,  the  agricultural  capacities  of  the  province  are  great, 
though  its  soils  are  of  very  different  values,  and  sometimes  singularly 
distributed,  tracts  of  level  land  being  poor,  while  the  tops  of  hills  are 
sometimes  remarkably  productive.  The  richest  part  of  the  province 
is  its  north-eastern  section,  above  the  coal-bearing  rocks,  and  the 
dyked  lands  in  Cumberland  and  Colchester,  which  are  more  than 
40,000  acres  in  extent.  The  whole  breadth  of  farming  land  is  over 
800,000  acres.  The  crops  of  the  year  1851  were  estimated  in  bush- 
els, as  follows  :  Wheat,  297,157;  barley,  190,097;  rye,  61,438 ;  oats, 
1,384,437  ;  buckwheat,  170,301 ;  Indian  corn,  37,475  ;  peas  and  beans, 
2l,63S;  grass-seed,  3,6SG ;  potatoes,  1,980,789;  turnip.s,  467,127; 
other  root  crops,  32,325.  To  these  should  be  added  287,837  tons 
hay,  3,013,890  pounds  butter,  652,069  pounds  cheese,  110,441  pounds 
maple  sugar.  The  crop  of  apples  is  an  iniportant  one,  and  this  fruit 
is  exported,  used  abundantly  at  home,  and  manufactured  into  cider. 

There  formerly  prevailed  in  Nova  Scotia  a  prejudice  against  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  in  favor  of  mercantile  or  other  occupations. 
But  the  unfortunate  result  of  many  speculations,  and  the  distress  from 
the  sudden  change  in  affairs  at  the  end  ot'  the  war  of  1812,  did  much 
to  alter  these  sentiments.  A  well-written  and  forcible  series  of  let- 
ters by  John  Young,  Esq.,  known  as  "  Agricola's  letters,"  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  central  board  of  agriculture  with  branches  in  1817,  and 
the  other  earnest  efforts  of  government  and  wise  private  individuals 
which  signalized  the  administration  of  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  were 
the  beginning  of  a  career  of  industry  and  improvement  in  this  impor- 
tant occupation,  which  is  still  in  progress.  Grazing  is  an  important 
branch  of  farming,  and  there  is  much  pride  in  raising  cattle  and 
horses.  Sheep  and  swine  are  also  raised  with  success  and  profit,  and 
cattle-shows,  and  the  enterprising  importation  of  improved  breeds 
from  England,  have  greatly  promoted  the  excellence  and  profit  of 
the  stock  business. 

The  nianufactures  of  the  province  are  comparatively  limited  in 
extent,  though  steadily  growing.  Many  of  the  families  of  the  farm- 
ers spin  and  weave  much  of  the  goods  used  at  home,  including  home- 
spun cloth  for  garments,  flannels,  linen,  blankets  and  carpets.  In 
very  many  villages  many  persons  pursue  either  exclusively  or  together 
with  the  business  of  farming,  the  occupations  of  tanning,  making 


510 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


boots  and  shoes,  saddlery  and  harnesses,  furniture  and  farming  im- 
plements. Bonnets  of  bleached  grass  or  straw  are  also  thus  manu- 
factured ;  and  there  are  similar  small  concerns  in  various  places  near 
Halifax,  which  manufacture  tobacco,  confectionery,  paper,  hats,  &c. 
Including  thoiKaw-mills,  ship-yards,  &c.,  the  manufacturing  statistics 
of  1851  were  as  follows  :  Saw-mills,  1,153  ;  grist-mills,  398  ;  steam  mills 
and  factories,  10;  tanneries,  237  ;  founderies,  9  ;  weaving  and  carding 
concerns,  81 ;  hand-looms,  11,096  ;  yards  fulled  cloth  woven,  1 19,698; 
unfulled,  790,104;  flannel,  219,352;  breweries  and  distilleries,  17; 
other  factories,  131  ;  bricks  made,  2,845,400  ;  value  of  farming  tools, 
cabinet  ware,  wooden  ware,  manufactured,  £56,519;  soap,  £28,277; 
candles,  £21,210;  number  of  vessels  built,  486,  of  57,776  tons  burth- 
en ;  number  of  boats  built,  2,654. 

The  situation  and  natural  resources  of  Nova  Scotia,  with  its  1,200 
miles  of  sea-coast  and  its  numerous  excellent  harbors,  give  it  remark- 
able advantages  for  commerce  ;  and  these  have  been  used  with  no 
small  degree  of  enterprise  and  success.  In  the  earlier  days  of  the 
province,  the  restrictive  policy  of  England  confined  the  trade  of  Nova 
Scotia  under  strict  repressive  limits ;  but  the  successive  removals  of 
parts  of  these  laws,  and  especially  the  colonial  act  which  went  into 
operation  in  1826,  have  opened  all  the  avenues  of  trade  to  the  enter- 
prise of  the  province.  There  are  43  free  ports  ;  and  the  number  of 
vessels  in  the  carrving  trade  of  other  countries,  the  home  commerce 
of  the  province,  and  the  fisheries,  increased  from  2,583,  of  141,093 
tons,  in  1846,  to  2,943,  of  189,083  tons,  in  1852.  The  whole 
amount  of  imports  during  the  same  year  was  £1,103,019 ;  and  of 
exports  £950,560.  The  chief  imports  were  cordage,  cotton  goods, 
codfish,  fishing  tackle,  flour,  hardware,  iron  and  steel,  crude  and  man- 
ufactured, molasses,  sugar,  tea ;  and  the  chief  exports,  butter,  coal, 
codfish,  cotton  and  woolen  goods,  horned  cattle,  mackerel,  molasses, 
oils,  potatoes,  turnips,  maple  sugar,  wood,  gypsum,  grindstones  atul 
building  stones. 

The  mining  interests  of  Nova  Scotia  are  of  great  and  increasing 
importance  ;  the  coal  mines  being  the  most  valuable  and  most  worked. 
Coal  seams  are  found  in  Cumberland,  Colchester,  Pictou  and  Cape 
Breton.  At  the  South  Joggins  in  Cumberland,  they  crop  out  along  the 
coast,  and  are  extensively  worked  by  the  British  North  American 
Mining  Company,  and  the  Albion  mines  at  Pictou  contain  ten  differ- 
ent strata  of  coal,  the  thickest  33  feet  through,  with  24  feet  of  good 
coal.     Other  profitable  seams  are  found  in  Cape  Breton.     Excellent 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


511 


iron  ore  is  found  near  Pictou,  the  Basin  of  Minas,  Annapolis,  Digby, 
and  elsewhere ;  and  native  copper  and  silver,  rich  copper  ore,  lead, 
and  manganese ;  but  none  of  these  have  thus  far  been  much  worked. 
The  beds  of  gypsum  near  Windsor  and  elsewhere,  have  been  quite 
extensively  worked;  as  have  various  strata  of  the.  coal  measures, 
which  afford  sandstone  and  grindstones.  In  1851,  the  quantity 
of  coal  mined  was  114,992  chaldrons;  of  gypsum,  79,795  tons;  iron 
smelted,  250  tons;  grindstones,  37,100  tons. 

The  fisheries  of  Nova  Scotia  may  perhaps  be  called  its  leading  in- 
terest ;  its  people  having  pursued  this  occupation  with  more  zeal  and 
to  a  greater  extent  than  those  of  any  other  colony  except  Newfound- 
land. An  account  of  the  fish  taken  and  the  modes  pursued  in  the 
different  departments  of  the  fishery  business  has  already  been  given  in 
the  history  of  New  Brunswick  ;  and  its  statements  will  be  found  in  the 
main  applicable  to  the  business  as  followed  in  Nova  Scotia.  There 
were  employed  in  the  fisheries,  in  1851,  812  vessels  of  43,333  tons, 
5,161  boats,  and  10,374  men ;  and  the  produce  of  their  labor  for  the 
same  year  reached  the  large  amount  of  196,434  quintals  of  codfish  ; 
1,669  barrels  of  salmon  ;  3,536  barrels  shad  ;  100,047  barrels  mack- 
erel; 53,200  barrels  herring;  5,343  barrels  alewives;  15,409  boxes 
smoked  herring;  and  189,250  gallons  fish  oil. 

This  account  of  the  material  condition  of  Nova  Scotia  would  not 
be  complete  without  some  allusion  to  the  later  improvements  in  lines 
of  travel.  Steam  communication  by  water  exists  with  England,  the 
United  States,  and  the  other  British  North  American  provinces  The 
numerous  vessels  concerned  in  the  commerce  or  fisheries,  offer  con- 
stant opportunities  of  reaching  almost  all  parts  of  the  world.  The 
waters  of  the  Atlanta .  and  the  Bay  of  Fundy  are  connected  by  the 
Shubenacadie  Canal,  between  Cobequid  Bay  and  Halifax  harbor, 
which  follows  the  course  of  the  lakes  and  river  of  that  np.ne,  and  is 
over  fifty  miles  long,  and  capable  of  receiving  vessels  of  eight  feet 
draft.  Railroads  have  been  built  from  Halifax  to  Windsor,  40  miles  ; 
and  from  Halifax  to  Truro,  60  miles ;  both  being  executed  in  the 
characteristically  thorough  English  style,  by  the  English  government, 
through  a  difficult  country,  and  at  an  expense  of  £8,000  per  mile.  The 
province  enjoys  the  advantage  of  these  roads,  at  the  small  expense 
of  paying  merely  the  interest  on  the  amount  invested. 
Vol,.  IW— 61 


518  AMERICA    ILLUSTRA^TED 


CHAPTEH   ?n. 

NATIONALITY     OP    THE    PEOPLE. ENGLISH. — AMERICANS.- 

FRENCn.  —  INDIANS. — CHARACTERISTIC  Til  AITS.  —  EXCEL- 
LENCIES NOT  APPRECIATED. —  INTELLIGENCE  AND  TALENT. 
—  JUDGE    HALIBURTON  AND  SIR  W.  F.   WILLIAMS. CON- 
STITUTION   OF   GOVERNMENT. —  GOVERNOR. —  LIST    OF 
GOVERNORS. —  LEGISLATURE. —  RELIGIOUS  DENOM- 
INATIONS.—  EDUCATION    AND    SCHOOLS.  —  GEN- 
ERA L    P  R  OS  P  ERI TY.  —  PO  PUL  ATION . 


The  people  of  Nova  Scotia  are  of  many  nationalities.  A  large 
proportion  of  them  of  course  are  of  English  blood.  In  Halifax  many 
Irish  are  found.  The  eastern  counties  are  largely  occupied  by  those 
of  Scotch  descent,  and  the  midland  and  western  ones  by  the  descend- 
ants of  American  refugees.  The  Swiss  and  German  colony  of 
Lunenburg  has  already  been  mentioned.  The  Acadians  or  French 
occupy  several  settlements.  A  few  hundreds  of  the  Micmac  Indians 
are  still  remaining,  and  there  are  several  thousand  negroes,  who  came 
originally  from  the  West  Indies  or  the  United  States,  and  who  are 
thriftless  and  poverty-stricken  in  their  own  villages,  though  they 
make  very  respectable  servants. 

Their  various  hereditary  traits  may  still  be  recognized  in  all  these 
different  nationalities  ;  the  steady,  deliberate  resolution  of  the  English- 
man ;  the  cautious  shrewdness  of  the  Scotsman,  the  careless  fun  of 
the  Irish,  the  ingenuity,  readiness  and  enterprise  of  the  New  Eng- 
lander,  the  peaceful,  immovable  morality,  good  manners  and  supersti- 
tion of  the  French  farmers  ;  but  all  these  qualities  join  in  a  harmonious 
national  character  belonging  to  the. province  at  large. 

This  character  has  many  excellencies,  and  deserves  a  much  higher 
reputation  than  it  has  commonly  enjoyed  outside  of  the  province.  It 
has  perhaps  been  most  misunderstood  among  the  people  of  the  United 
States  ;  whose  inhabitants,  it  is  true,  have  mostly  been  too  distant 
from  Nova  Scotia  to  know  or  care  what  were  the  qualities  of  its  peo- 
ple. The  Nova  Scotians  are,  as  a  people,  hardy,  enterprising  and 
industrious;  honest,  hospitable,  social,  and  intelligent.  They  are  not 
without  a  degree  of  caution  in  admitting  the  advances  of  strangers ; 


I'^aoL.^ . 


NOVA    SCOTIA. 


513 


jiiff- 


[her 
It 

lited 
Unt 
[leo- 

land 
Inot 
b's; 


but  having  once  contracted  a  friendship,  they  are  steady,  sincere,  and 
disinterested  in  it.  They  are  remarkably  fond  of  information,  and 
are  judicious  in  selecting  books  and  literary  materiel,  and  diligent  in 
reading.  Outside  of  the  province  indeed  there  are  very  few  who  are 
aware  of  the  surprising  number  of  individuals  born  within  it,  who 
have  rendered  themselves  eminent  and  useful  by  remarkable  talents 
or  distinguished  achievements ;  and  whose  reputation,  aflbrding  just 
ground  for  pride  to  their  fellow-countrymen,  would  be  an  honor  to 
any  country  whatever.  It  is  probably  true,  for  instance,  that  in- 
numerable persons  have  heard  of  the  eminent  literary  abilities  of 
Judge  Thomas  C.  Haliburton,  of  the  chivalrous  bravery  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam Fenwick  Williams,  and  of  the  business  enterprise  of  Sir  Samuel 
Cunard,  without  the  remotest  conception  that  they  are  the  sons  of 
Nova  Scotia. 

The  Nova  Scotians  are  also  fond  of  company  and  amusements ; 
athletic  games  are  a  frequent  diversion  in  the  country ;  and  dances 
and  parties  of  pleasure  are  frequent  in  the  cities.  The  healthy 
climate,  active  occupation,  comfort  and  cheerfulness  of  the  population, 
makes  them  remarkably  long  lived. 

The  government  of  Nova  Scotia  consists  of  a  chief  executive  officer, 
entitled  lieutenant-governor,  who  is  appointed  by  the  crown,  and  who 
advises  upon  governmental  measures  with  the  executive  council,  of 
nine  members,  also  appointed  by  the  crown,  but  who  are  not  retained 
in  office  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  the  people.  The  governor  appoints 
the  judges  of  the  courts  of  common  law,  the  custos  and  magistrates 
of  each  county,  and  temporarily  to  any  office  within  the  gift  of  the 
crown,  until  the  action  of  the  latter.  He  also  has  the  pardoning 
power,  and  that  of  convening  the  legislature  ;  and  may  also  be 
commander-in-chief  of  the  militia  and  regular  forces  within  the 
province.  The  legislature  consists  of  a  council  of  21  members,  and 
a  House  of  Assembly,  the  former  appointed  for  life  by  the  crown, 
and  which  may  reject  or  amend  bills  sent  in  by  the  assembly,  and  orig- 
inate bills,  which  must  however  pass  the  assembly ;  but  it  can  not 
originate  money  bills.  The  House  of  Assembly  consists  of  53  mem- 
bers, chosen  every  four  years  by  the  counties  and  townships.  It  has 
entire  control  of  the  finances  and  general  administration  of  the 
province,  but  all  legislative  action  must  be  confirmed  or  rejected  by 
the  government  of  Great  Britain.  The  present  governor  of  Nova 
Scotia  is  the  Earl  of  Mulgrave,  of  whose  excellence,  ability,  and  pop- 
ularity we  have  already  spoken. 


614  AMERICA   ILLUSTRATED. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  names  and  dates  of  entrance  on 
official  life  of  all  of  the  English  governors  and  acting  governors  of 
Nova  Scotia. 

AT   ANNAPOLIS   ROVAL. 

Col.  Vetch, Governor,  Oct.  22,  1710. 

Francie  Nicholson,  Esq., "  1714. 

Richard  Philips,  Esq., "  1719. 

John  Doucctt,  Esq., Senior  Councilor,  1722. 

Liiwroneo  Armstrong,  Esq., Lieut.  Governor,  1'25. 

John  Adams,  Esq.,  Senior  Councilor,  Dec.  8,  1739. 

Paul  Mascarene,  Esq., Lieut.  Governor,  May  27, 1740. 

AT   HALIFAX. 

E.  Cornwnllis,  Esq., Governor,  July  14, 1749. 

Peregrine  Thos.  llopson,  Esq., "  Aug.  3,  1 752. 

Charles  Lawrence,  Esq., Sen.  Councilor,  Nov.  1,  1753. 

"           "                  Lt.  Governor,  Oct.  21, 17. M. 

«           "                  Governor,  July  23, 1 750. 

Jonathan  Belcher,  Esq., Sen.  Councilor,  Oct.  19, 1760. 

Mr.  Ellis,  (never  left  England) 

Jona.  Belcher,  Esq., Lt.  Governor,  Nov.  21, 1761. 

Montiigue  Wilmot,  Esq. "  Sept.  26, 176.3. 

"           "              Governor,  May  31,  1764. 

Mr.  Green, Sen.  Councilor,  May  23,  1766. 

Michael  Francklin,  Esq., Lt.  Governor,  Aug,  23, 1766. 

Lord  William  Campbell, Governor,  Nov.  27, 1706. 

Benjamin  Greene,  Esq.,  Sen.  Councilor,  Oct.  30,  1771. 

M.  Francklin,  Esq., Lt.  Governor,  June  30, 1772. 

Lord  Wm.  Campbell j Governor,  July  13,  1772. 

Francis  Legge,  Esq., "  Oct.  8,   1773. 

Mariot  Arbuthnot,  Esq., Lt.  Governor,  Apr.  27,  1776. 

Richard  Hughes,  Esq., "  Aug.  17, 1778. 

Sir  Andrew  Snape  Hammond, t.          "  July  31,  1781. 

John  Parr,  Esq.,   Governor,  Oct.   9,   1782. 

Edward  Fanning,  Esq., Lt.  Governor,  Sept.  23, 1783. 

Richard  Bulkley,  Esq., Sen.  Councilor,  Nov.  25, 1791. 

John  Wcntworth,  Esq., Lt.  Governor,  May  14,  1792. 

Sii'  George  Prevost, "  Apr.  13,  1808. 

Alexander  Croke,  Esq., Sen.  Councilor,  Dec.  17,  1808. 

Sir  G.  Prevost, Lt.  Governor,  Apr.  1 1 ,  1809. 

A.  Croke,  Esq., Sen.  Councilor,  Aug.  26,  ISI 1. 

Sir  John  Sherbrooke, Lt.  Governor,  Oct.  16,  1811. 

Maj.  Gon.  Darroch, Commander-in-chief,  Aug.  26,  1814. 

Sir  J.  Sherbrooke, Lt.  Governor,  Sept.  21, 1814. 

Maj.  Gen.  Geo.  Stracey  Smyth, Commander-in-chief,  June  27,  1816. 

Litut.  Gen.  George  Earl  Dalhousie,. . .  Lt.  Governor,  Oct.  24,  1816. 

Michael  Wallace,  Esq. Sen.  Councilor,  Apr.  3,  1818. 

Lord  Dalhousie, Lt.  Governor,  May  1,   1819. 

Sir  James  Kempt, "  June  2,  1820. 

Sir  Peregrine  Maitland, "  ....     18"8. 


NOVA    SCOTIA.  5J5 

Sir  Colin  Campber, Lt.  Governor,  I8:i5. 

Viscount  Falkland, "  1841. 

Sir  John  Harvey, "  1842. 

Sir  J.  G.  Lc  Marchant, "  1853. 

Earl  of  Mulgrave,   "  1858. 

The  judicial  sy-tem  includes  courts  of  chancery,  errors,  and  ap- 
peals, supreme  court,  court  of  vice-addiiralty,  probate  court,  court 
of  marriage  and  divorce,  courf  of  general  sessions,  and  justices' 
courts.  The  laws  in  force  are  the  common  and  statute  law  of  Eng- 
land, and  the  statutes  of  Nova  Scotia. 

The  religious  denominations  of  Nova  Scotia  are,  the  Established 
Church  of  England,  the  Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Methodists,  Congre- 
gationalists,  Lutherans,  and  Roman  Catholics.  Of-  these,  the  Pres- 
byterians are  most  numerous,  and  include  the  Established  Church 
of  Scotland,  the  Free  Church  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Nova  Scotia.  The  next  largest  denominations  are,  the 
Roman  Catholics,  who  have  an  archbishop,  bishop,  and  about  forty 
priests  ;  Baptists,  Church  of  England,  and  Methodists.  The  respect- 
ive numbers  of  these  connections  are  nearly  as  follows :  Presbyte- 
rians, 72,974  ;  Catholics,  69,634  ;  Baptists,  42,243  ;  Church  of  Eng- 
land, 36,482  ;  Methodists,  23,596  ;  Lutherans.  4,087  ;  Congregation- 
alists,  2,639.  There  are  also  a  few  other  congregations  and  indi- 
viduals, belonging  to  other  denominations. 

The  intelligence  and  mental  cultivation  and  activity  of  the  popu- 
lation of  Nova  Scotia  are  in  no  small  degree  owing  to  the  excellent 
provision  for  education  which  has  long  characterized  it.  This  in- 
cludes a  system  of  common  schools  diffused  throughout  the  towns 
and  villages  of  the  province  ;  grammar  schools  in  each  county ;  ex- 
cellent classical  schools  of  a  high  grade,  at  Halifax,  Pictou,  and  else- 
where ;  King's  College,  at  Windsor,  and  Dalhousie  College  at  Hali- 
fax ;  both  the  latter  possessing  commodious  buildings,  funded  prop- 
erty, and  able  faculties.  Indeed  there  are  fe  .v  countries  where  facil- 
ities for  education  are  so  universally  attainable. 

The  mental  and  material  condition  of  Nova  Scotia  are  both  hope- 
ful in  a  high  degree,  and  in  fact  rapidly  improving.  It  is  impossible 
to  set  limits  to  the  future  wealth  and  prosperity  of  the  province. 
Nothing  can  better  indicate  the  steady  rapidity  of  her  growth  than 
the  simple  statement  of  her  population  at  different  periods.  This 
was  in  1772,  but  about  20,000;  in  1818,  78,345;  in  1828,  123,848; 
and  it  is  now  in  the  neighborhood  of  300,000. 


NEAYEOUNDLAKD. 


AREA.  —  DISCOVERY.  —  FIRST  SETTLEMENT. — CALVERT'S  JfET- 

TLEMENT. SETTLERS  DRIVEN  OFF.  —  FIRST    LOCAL  GOVERxV- 

MENT.  —  RECENT    PROSPERITY. — ST.    JOHN.  —  ITS    HARBOR, 

BUILDINGS,  ETC.  —  VISIT  OF  PRINCE  OF  WALES.  —  INTERIOR. 

— CHARACTER  OF  PEOPLE.  —  RED  INDIANS.  —  ANIMALS. 

—  PLANTS.  —  MINERALS.  —  FISHERIES.  —  SEALING. — 

STATISTICS  OF  TRADE. — GRAND  BANK. — MIQUE- 

LETS.  —  MAGDALEN  ISLANDS. 


NE\vFouN'ni..\M)  is  nearer  to  Europe  than  any  other  part  of  Amer- 
ica; St.  Joiin  being  only  1,665  miles  from  Cahvay,  in  Ireland.  It  is 
in  the  form  of  an  irregular  triangle,  deeply  indented  by  numerous 
bays  and  iidets  on  all  sides ;  and  contains  about  57,000  square  miles 
of  area,  or  more  than  twice  the  area  of  New  Brunswick.  It  was 
the  first  discovered  of  all  the  British  colonies,  having  been  t;iken 
possession  of  by  John  Cabot,  for  the  English  crown  in  141)7 ;  but  is 
supposed  to  have  been  seen  by  some  Nortluncn  as  early  as  the  year 
1,000  of  the  Christian  era. 

The  first  attempt  to  establish  an  English  settlement  on  the  island 
was  made  in  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  on  the  recoiii- 
mendation  of  two  merchants  who  had  traded  there  to  advant.Tjc 
The  settlement  however  was  an  entire  failure,  in  consecjuence  of  the 
inexperience  <»f  its  managers.  The  number  of  English  engaged  in 
the  fisheries  on  its  coasts  increased  however,  and  occupied  fifteen 
ships  in  1570.  At  this  time,  the  island  was  a  sort  of  common  or  de- 
batable  territory  ;  a  i)hice  of  resort  for  fishermen  and  traders  ol  all 
nations,  and  even  for  pirates,  who  math'  their  rendezvous  there  with 
itnpunily.  Sir  Humphrey  (Gilbert,  howcvi-r,  came  out  with  a  fieel 
of  three  or  (wc  vessels,  and  in  1583  took  formal  possession  of  \ew- 
foundland    for   Queen    Elizabeth,  and  caused  the   crews  of  all  the 


N  E  W  F  O  U  N  D  L  A  iN  D . 


517 


thirty-six  vessels  then  in  the  harbor  of  St.  John,  to  acknowledge  her 
supremacy.  Her  claim  was  again  asserted  two  years  afterwards, 
by  Sir  Bernard  Drake,  who  destroyed  a  Portuguese  settlement 
there. 

In  1610,  James  I.  granted  that  part  of  Newfoundland  between 
Capes  St.  Mary  and  Bonavista  to  a  company  which  included  the 
Earl  of  Northampton,  Lord  Chancellor  Bacon,  Lord  Verulan  and 
other  noblemen,  who  established  a  colony  in  Conception  Bay,  whicli 
was  the  first  permanent  settlement  on  the  island.  The  settlers  how- 
ever devoted  their  chief  attention  to  the  fisheries.  With  the  rapid 
increase  of  the  latter  business,  there  was  also  a  great  increase  of 
disorders  and  abuses  among  the  heterogeneous  concourse  of  sea- 
faring men  that  gathered  there,  as  there  was  no  law  nor  tribunal  to 
decide  any  cause.  Captairi  Whitbourne,  who  went  out  with  an  ad- 
miralty commission,  in  1614,  entertained  complaints  from  170  mas- 
ters of  vessels.  Another  settlement  was  made  in  1016  by  a  Welsh 
gentleman  named  Vaughan,  at  Cambriol  or  Little  Britain  ;  and  in 
1621  a  grant — which  seems  to  have  conflicted  with  that  to  the  first 
Company — was  made  to  that,  Sir  George  Calvert  who  afterwards, 
as  Lord  Baltimore,  settled  Maryland.  Calvert  established  himself 
at  Ferryland,  where  he  built  a  handsome  residence,  a  fort,  a  salt- 
works, and  quickly  gathered  a  prosperous  settlement,  which  he  how- 
ever soon  governed  by  deputy,  removing  himself  to  Maryland.  By 
about  1640,  as  many  as  fifteen  or  sixteen  settlements  were  planted 
on  various  parts  of  the  coast,  including  in  all  about  350  families. 
But  when  the  home  government  proposed  to  establish  some  authori- 
ties to  decide  disputes  amongst  lliein,  the  merchants  and  ship-owners 
in  England,  fancying  that  good  order  would  interfere  with  their  gains 
from  the  fishery,  petitioned  against  the  appointment  of  a  governor, 
and  managed  to  prevent  it.  This  singular  and  mistaken  policy  was 
presently  carried  still  further,  in  rcjily  to  another  application  for  a 
governor,  in  1674,  when  the  FiOrds  of  Trade  and  I'lantalions  re- 
solved that  plantations  in  Newfoundland  should  be  discouraged,  and 
the  settlers  should  l)e  driven  otf  the  island.  This  foolish  and  cruel 
decree  was  actually  executed,  houses  burned,  and  many  outrages 
committed  during  two  years,  to  expel  tluMn.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  these  proceedings  were  stopped,  though  no  government  was 
established.  In  1('»0(),  the  French,  who  continued  (o  assert  their 
claim  to  the  fisheries,  seized  upon  all  the  Hiiglish  settlements  in  New- 
foundland except  Bonavista  and  Carbonear. 


i;( 


US 


518 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


The  island  continued  without  any  approach  to  a  competent  gov- 
ernment, until  1729  ;  having  no  authorities  whatever  except  the 
masters  of  the  first  fishing  vessels  each  season,  who  were  by  law  in- 
vested with  some  judicial  authority,  but  were  far  too  ignorant  to 
use  it  well ;  or  being  partly  under  thegovernor  of  Nova  Scotia.  In 
fact  however  there  was  no  real  government ;  and  the  fishermen  and 
settlers  quarreled,  fought,  barked  the  scanty  trees  of  the  island, 
wasted  their  means  in  rioting,  and  often  bound  themselves  out  by  a 
tenure  almost  of  slavery,  substantially  at  their  own  pleasure.  Some- 
times disputes  were  decided  by  the  naval  commander  in  the  station, 
or  an  officer  deputed  by  him ;  and  sometimes  by  an  anomalous  sort 
of  parliament  which  met  at  St.  John,  and  acted  by  common  consent. 
In  1729,  Captain  Osborn  of  the  Navy  was  appointed  governor,  with 
power  to  create  justices  of  the  peace,  and  administer  the  civil  gov- 
ernment of  the  island.  It  was  however  a  quarter  of  a  century  be- 
fore the  turbulent  fishermen  and  traders,  long  accustomed  to  their 
anarchical  and  irresponsible  proceedings,  finally  submitted  to  this 
orderly  constitution  of  government. 

.  During  the  war  with  the  American  colonies,  the  trade  of  New- 
foundland was  very  much  injured  by  the  prohibition  of  the  New 
Englanders  from  fishing  in  its  waters,  and  the  retaliatory  measure 
of  the  Americans,  who  at  once  ceased  furnishing  provisions  to  the 
English  fishermen.  These  measures  entirely  broke  up  one  season's 
fishing,  as  the  English  vessels,  on  arriving  out,  had  to  return  home  at 
once  for  stores.  In  the  same  year  an  unprecedentedly  furious  storm 
destroyed  in  those  waters,  a  number  of  ships,  seven  hundred  fishing 
vessels,  and  nearly  all  their  cVews;  besides  vast  amounts  of  prop- 
erty in  curi^d  fish,  fish-houses,  flakes,  »Scc. 

The  treaty  of  Paris  in  1783,  i)ermittcd  citizens  of  the  United 
States  to  fish  in  the  waters  of  Newfoundland,  but  not  to  dry  their 
fish  on  its  coasts;  and  the  fisheries  and  trade  quickly  regained  their 
former  prosperity.  The  permanent  population  and  wealth  of  the 
island  now  increased,  and  the  nuniber  and  intportance  of  lawsuits; 
in  consc(iuonc('  of  which  a  more  comi)lete  system  of  courts  was 
erected  in  17H9,  and  surrogate  courts  were  appointed  in  1792,  for 
several  districts  of  the  island.  Mr.  Reeves  was  soon  after  appointed 
chief  justice,  an  excellent  man  and  sound  lawyer  ;  and  from  this 
time  there  has  been  a  njore  settled  and  well  organized  government. 
The  wars  with  France  at  the  end  of  the  last  century  and  the  be- 
ginning of  the  next  were  of  small  injury  to  the  colony,  as  it  was  wt-ll 


NEWFOUNDLAND. 


519 


guarded  by  the  vessels  of  war  on  the  station  ;  and  a  career  of  steady 
prosperity  and  rapid  gain  attended  Newfoundland  until  1815.  A 
post-office  was  established  at  St.  John  in  1809 ;  and  a  newspaper  had 
been  started  there  two  years  before,  named  "  The  Royal  Gazette  and 
Newfoundland  Advertiser."  The  sudden  fall  of  prices  at  the  end  of 
the  war,  in  1815,  howe^ier,  ruined  a  number  of  commercial  houses, 
and  in  connection  with  severe  losses  by  fire  at  St.  John  a  short  time 
afterwards,  brought  upon  the  island  so  much  distress  that  a  number 
of  its  inhabitants  deserted  it.  Since  1818  however,  it  has  steadily 
recovered,  and  has  resumed  its  former  prosperity.  In  that  year  the 
first  permanently  resident  governor  was  appointed,  being  Sir  Charles 
Hamilton.  The  administration  continued  in  the  hands  of  royal  gov- 
ernors until  1832,  when  a  constitutional  provincial  government  was 
granted  by  the  crown,  to  consist  of  a  governor,  an  executive  council* 
and  a  legislature  of  two  houses.  The  population  was,  in  1851, 
lOl.GOO.     It  is  now  120,000.  • 

The  settlements  of  Newfoundland  are  along  the  coast,  chiefly  in 
its  southeastern  portion,  which  is  often  termed  Avalon,  a  name  given 
to  it  by  Lord  Baltimore,  and  also  in  the  districts  of  Trinity  Bay  and 
Bonavista  on  the  east,  and  Fortune  Bay  on  the  south.  They  thus 
line  the  shore  of  the  island,  from  Twillingate.  the  most  northerly,  in 
the  Bay  of  Exploits,  to  St.  George's,  in  St.  George's  Bay,  on  the 
western  shore,  opposite  Anticosti.  They  are  however  scarcely 
more  than  fishing  hamlets,  with  the  single  exception  of  the  capital 
of  the  island,  St.  John. 

St.  John,  the  capital  and  largest  town  of  Newfoundland,  is  mostly 
built  of  unpainted  wooden  houses,  which  give  it  a  somewhat  sombre 
appearance.  It  stands  at  the  northeastern  extremity  of  the  harbor, 
whose  entrance  from  the  sea  is  of  a  very  striking  and  majestic  char- 
acter. The  coast  in  that  vicinity  is  bordered  by  an  immense  sea-wall 
of  lofty  precipices  of  dark  red  sandstone,  which  [)lunge  down  into 
the  deep  waters  of  the  Atlantic  at  an  angle  of  70  degrees.  This 
range  of  dill's  is  the  steep  outer  slope  of  a  ridge  of  hills  bordering  the 
coast ;  and  which  is  here  and  there  cut  through  by  narrow  valleys, 
with  sides  nearly  or  (piite  perpendicular.  One  of  these,  which 
extends  to  a  depth  of  some  sixty  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  sea, 
constitutes  the  entrance  to  the  harbor  of  St.  John's  ;  and  the  views 
through  it  at  entering,  of  the  (juict  waters  of  the  harbor  within,  with 
its  more  gently  sloping  banks,  and  the  town  with  its  busy  wharves 
beyond,  are  extrcnjely  picture-sque.     The  harbor  is  one  of  the  best  in 


520 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED, 


the  world,  being  sheltered  by  high  lands,  and  only  entered  from  the 
sea  through  the  narrow  passage  just  mentioned,  which  is  only  about 
six  hundred  feet  wide,  between  two  steep  and  lofty  cliffs,  and  strongly 
fortified.  There  is  no  perceptible  tide,  and  ample  space  for  shipping 
within.  The  town  consists  chiefly  of  one  irregular  street  about  a 
mile  long,  on  which  there  are  many  handsome  buildings,  mostly 
erected  since  the  great  fire  of  1846.  The  city  is  lighted  by  gas,  and 
supplied  with  water  from  a  pond  on  a  hill  near  by.  It  contains  nine 
churches,  the  government  house,  a  large  and  plain  but  commodious 
edifice,  said  to  have  cost  over  £200,000 ;  a  handsome  granite  building 
for  the  meetings  of  the  Assembly,  anew  and  elegant  Roman  Catholic 
cathedral,  a  lunatic  asylum,  hospital,  market  and  custom-house.  There 
are  several  institutions  of  charity,  literature  and  science ;  a  library,  a 
botanic  garden,  &c.,  &c.  There  is  much  good  society  at  St.  John, 
though  its  population  fluctuates  excessively  and  constantly.  It  is 
greatly  crowded  during  the  fishing  season,  and  in  the  autumn;  and 
often  very  empty  at  other  times. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  late  visit  to  America  of  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
his  first  landing  was  at  St.  John,  where  he  disembarked  on  the  morn- 
ing of  July  24,  1860,  having  entered  the  harbor  on  the  preceding 
evening.  The  city  had  been  handsomely  decorated  with  triumphal 
arches,  flags  and  evergreens,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  population 
of  the  island  had  gathered  there  to  welcome  their  future  King.  Amidst 
the  thunder  of  cannon,  the  ringing  of  bells,  and  the  cheers  of  the 
thousands  who  were  assembled,  the  prince  landed,  and  was  received 
by  the  Newfoundland  Corps,  acting  as  a  guard  of  honor,  and  by 
Gov.  Bannerman,  with  whom  he  rode  to  the  Government  House, 
escorted  by  a  long  and  splendid  procession.  At  the  Government 
House  addresses  were  presented  by  the  Episcopal  and  the  Roman 
Catholic  bishops  of  Newfoundland,  the  inhabitants  of  St.  John  and 
Harbor  Grace,  the  Council  and  Assembly,  and  various  societies. 
After  the  addresses  the  Prince  held  a  levee,  at  which  the  principal 
gentlemen  of  Newfoundland  were  introduced  to  him.  He  then 
reviewed  the  Royal  Newfoundland  and  Volunteer  Corps,  visited 
Waterford  Hridge,  Top.«ail  Road,  and  some  other  points  aflordiiig 
good  views,  and  returned  to  a  state  dinner.  In  the  evening  the  city 
was  brilliantly  illuininiited,  and  there  was  a  fine  displiiy  of  lirewoiks. 
Next  day  a  noble  Newloundland  dog  was  presented  to  the  Prince  by 
chief  justice  Sir  Francis  lirady,  on  behalf  of  the  people  of  the  colony, 
which  the  Prince  named  Cabot,  after  the  discoverer.     The  remainder 


NEWFOUNDLAND. 


521 


of  the  day  was  spent  in  examining  the  scenery  of  the  vicinity,  witness- 
ing the  regatta,  visiting  a  "  fishing-room,"  as  it  is  called,  and  observing 
the  processes  of  curing  codfish,  and  was  concluded  by  a  grand  ball  at 
the  Colonial  House.  On  the  morning  of  the  third  day  the  Prince 
departed  for  Halifax  amidst  demonstrations  of  respect  not  less  marked 
and  enthusia.stic  than  those  which  had  greeted  his  coming,  and  leaving 
all  much  delighted  with  his  goodness  and  graceful  manners. 

The  interior  of  Newfoundland,  which  was  almost  totally  unknown 
before  Cormack's  expedition  in  1822,  is  an  unbroken  desert,  filled  with 
steep  hills,  ragged  ravines,  lakes  and  ponds  innumerable,  and  streams 
full  of  falls  and  rapids.  There  are  very  many  parts  of  it  where  the 
stoutest  pedestrian  can  not  advance,  without  a  road,  more  than  a  mile 
an  hour;  the  difficulties  arising  from  the  ruggedness  of  the  country  be- 
ing very  much  increased  by  the  close  stiff  growth  of  stunted  pines,  firs 
and  other  northern  trees,  or  the  thickets  of  scrubby  underwood  and 
briars,  which  cover  the  rocks  with  an  almost  impenetrable  mat  of 
stiff,  unyielding  branches.  From  the  tops  of  many  of  the  low  hills, 
fifty,  sixty,  or  eighty  ponds  and  lakes  may  be  seen  at  one  time  ;  and 
the  valleys,  if  they  do  not  contain  a  pond,  frequently  are  occupied 
with  a  sort  of  marsh,  consisting  of  a  great  sponge  of  moss  several 
feet  deep  and  of  course  constantly  wet.  Few  roads  are  opened,  and 
traveling  between  the  settlements  which  fringe  the  eastern  and 
southern  coast,  is  performed  almost  wholly  by  water,  even  the  courts, 
judges,  officers,  lawyers  and  all,  being  conveyed  around  the  circuit  in 
a  vessel  fitted  up  for  that  purpose. 

The  people  of  Newfoundland  are  simple-hearted,  honest,  hardy, 
industrious  and  good-natured;  very  fond  of  news,  and  often  believing 
the  exaggerated  reports  that  are  frecjuently  spread  through  the  country. 
There  is  one  singular  exception  to  their  communicative  disposition, 
viz.,  ihat  it  is  a  point  of  honor  with  the  hunters  of  seals  and  fur,  not 
to  reveal  the  result  of  their  enterprises.  A  large  proportion  of  the 
inhabitants  are  by  descent  cither  Irish,  or  of  the  Norman  race  of  the 
islands  of  Jersey  and  Cuernsey. 

The  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  Newfoundland  were  the  lied  Indians, 
so  called  from  their  habit  of  painting  themselves  and  their  possessions 
with  red  ochre.  Their  own  name  for  themselves  is  Bcrothics.  They 
were  of  the  American  Indian  race  ;  extremely  wild,  savage,  cruel  and 
unapproaehaitle  ;  and  all  ellorfs  to  establish  intercourse  with  them 
have  been  entirely  futile.  They  have  always  been  abused  by  the 
whites,  many  of  whom  have  been  in  the  habit  of  shooting  them  down 


it 

'4. 


'7) 


522 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


like  wild  beasts ;  so  that  their  disposition  toward  the  Europeans  is 
entirely  natural.  They  formerly  occupied  the  whole  island  ;  but 
have  gradually  been  driven  by  the  whites  and  a  colony  of  Micmacs 
from  the  mainland,  who  came  in  about  A.  D.  1700,  to  the  wild  interior 
and  north  of  the  island.  They  are  now  either  quite  extinct,  or  have, 
as  many  suppose,  emigrated  to  Labrador,  none  having  been  seen, 
it  is  believed,  since  about  1830.  Many  traces  of  their  presence  still 
remain,  among  which  is  a  vast  range  of  fencing,  extending  thirty  or 
forty  miles,  intended  to  catch  deer;  and  some  of  the  northern  settlers 
believe  that  they  still  haunt  the  interior  of  the  island. 

The  wild  animals  of  Newfoundland  are  the  deer,  wolf,  bear,  hare, 
beaver,  martin,  dog,  wild-cat,  rat  and  mouse.  The  well  known  long- 
haired breed  of  Newfoundland  dogs  is  very  scarce,  and  almost 
impossible  to  obtain  in  purity.  There  is  another  short-haired  native 
breed,  a  cross  with  the  former,  and  possessing  all  its  characteristic 
excellencies.  The  Newfoundland  dogs  are  perhaps  the  most  intelligent 
of  the  dog  kind,  and  best  suited  to  be  a  companion  for  man. 
.  There  are  few  parts  of  Newfoundland  capable  of  cultivation  to 
advantage  ;  the  most  considerable  districts  of  this  nature  being  in  the 
southwestern  angle  of  the  island,  about  St.  George's  Bay,  where 
some  of  the  hardier  fruits,  grains  and  vegetables  may  be  raised,  and 
good  grazing  farms  have  been  begun.  Elsewhere,  it  has  commonly 
been  found  impossible  to  cultivate  the  few  sheltered  patches  of  arable 
land,  with  any  profit. 

Useful  minerals  or  rocks  are  singularly  rare,  and  very  few  trees 
grow  large  enough  to  afford  timber,  though  the  stumps  and  logs  found 
in  some  of  the- swamps  indicate  that  a  much  heavie^growth  formerly 
covered  the  island.  The  occupations  which  constitute  its  sources  of 
wealth  are  therefore  the  fur  trade,  which  is  however  not  very  exten- 
sive, and  the  fisheries,  which  are  doubtless  the  most  remarkable  and 
important  in  the  world. 

The  chief  fisheries  are  of  cod,  and  seals.  In  Newfoundland, 
"fish"  means  codfish;  other  less  important  varieties  are  called  by 
their  respective  names.  All  the  waters  of  Newfoundland  abound 
with  fish ;  but  the  fisheries  of  the  northern  and  western  coasts  arc 
now  mostly  left  to  the  French.  The  principal  fisheries  of  the  British 
are  the  shore  fisheries.  These  are  conducted  in  boats,  managed  by 
from  two  to  four  hands,  and  fishing  at  various  distances,  w  •  t  close 
in  shore  to  two  or  three  miles  out.  Each  hand  has  charge  of  two 
Uhcs,  with  two  hooks  each,  baited  with  herring,  mackerel,  capclaii, 


NEWFOUNDLAND. 


523 


squid  or  clams,  sometimes  with  flesh  of  birds,  or  fish's  entrails.  The 
cod  is  perhaps  the  most  fearless  and  voracious  of  all  fish ;  and  so 
rapidly  do  they  bite  that  when  plentiful  the  fisherman  frequently  has 
only  to  pull  up  one  line  after  another,  shake  off  the  fish,  sometimes 
two,  and  drop  the  bait  over  again,  as  fast  as  he  can  work,  until  his 
boat  is  filled.  It  is  not  at  all  uncommon  for  one  person  to  catch  250 
good  fish,  or  about  2,500  pounds,  in  one  day.  When  caught,  the  fish 
are  carried  ashore  as  soon  as  possible,  thrown  upon  a  stage,  and  by  a 
division  of  labor  among  four  persons  respectively  termed  cut- throat, 
header,  splitter  and  salter,  are  opened,  cleaned  and  piled  in  salt  to 
cure,  at  the  rate  of  several  hundred  an  hour.  The  curing  is  a  deli- 
cate operation,  subject,  to  failure  from  wrong  proportion  of  salt,  hot 
weather,  rain  and  other  casualties ;  and  with  the  subsequent  washing 
and  c'rying,  occupies  some  weeks.  When  the  fish  will  not  take  bait 
they  are  sometimes  caught  with  a  "jigger,"  or  bare  hook  set  in  lead 
and  moved  up  and  down  so  as  to  strike  into  the  fish. 

The  fishing  season  commences  in  May,  during  which  month  the 
early  herrings  first  arrive  and  are  netted  for  bait.  In  June  the  cape- 
Ian,  another  kind  of  small  fish,  come  upon  the  coast ;  and  the  fish- 
ing continues  with  them  and  other  bait,  until  September.  The  cod- 
fish, when  completely  cured,  are  assorted  into  several  kinds,  known 
as  merchantable,  Madeira,  West  India,  and  broken  or  dun-fish  ;  the 
first  being  prime,  the  second  nearly  as  good,  the  third  for  the  use  of 
the  negroes,  and  the  fourth  incapable  of  keeping,  and  therefore  used 
at  home.  The  sounds  or  bladders,  and  tongues,  are  cut  from  the 
refuse  by  the  old  men,  women  and  children,  and  pickled  in  kegs  ;  the 
livers  are  exposed  to  the  sun  in  vats  until  the  oil  drains  off  and  is 
barreled,  and  then  boiled  to  extract  an  inferior  quality.  All  these 
different  products  of  this  industry  are  commonly  sold  by  the  fisher- 
men to  wholesale  merchants,  for  cash  or  goods.  When  the  fishing 
season,  the  harvest  of  the  year,  is  over,  the  settler  frequently  removes 
to  some  wooded  neighborhood  with  his  family,  and  occupies  himself 
in  making  boats,  oars,  staves,  hoops,  &c.,  in  hunting  for  game  or 
wild  fowl,  or  trapping  for  furs. 

Some  salmon  are  caught ;  one  or  two  firms  have  been  engaged  in 
whaling ;  but  no  other  branch  of  the  fisheries  is  imjjortant,  compared 
with  sealing.  The  season  for  sealing  commences  in  March.  It  is 
carried  on  in  vessels,  usually  brigs  and  schooners  of  from  80  to  150 
tons,  which  are  fitted  out  during  the  winter,  and  set  out  for  tbe  ice 
about  the  first  of  March,  strongly  manned  with  crews  of  from  fifteen 


I 

s 


!•■;■ 


1*!' 


524 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


to  forty  men,  who  most  frequently  pay  for  their  own  provisions,  and 
receive  their  wages  in  such  a  proportion  of  the  seal  skins  caught  as 
may  be  agreed  on,  the  merchant  or  owner  who  fits  out  the  vessel 
retaining  the  rest.  The  vessels  leave  the  port  through  channels  cut  in 
the  ice,  if  necessary,  and  steer  straight  for  those  vast  fields  of  ice 
and  bergs  that  float  down  from  the  Arctic  ocean.  Into  the  heart  of 
these  they  penetrate,  sailing  where  possible,  making  their  way  by 
towing,  cutting  channels,  or  squeezing  between  the  masses  of  ice, 
where  necessary,  and  exposed  to  the  most  frightful  dangers  from  the 
movements  of  the  ice,  especially  in ,  case  of  storms.  The  seals  are 
found  sunning  themselves  on  the  ice,  or  asleep  on  it,  grouped  together 
in  neighborhoods,  which  are  termed  "seal  meadows."  When  such 
a  place  is  reached,  the  men  arm  themselves  with  spiked  clubs,  dis- 
perse about  the  ice,  and  knock  the  poor  creatures  in  the  head.  If 
not  instantly  killed,  the  young  ones  cry  out  with  a  most  lamentable 
moan  like  that  of  a  young  child.  They  are  instantly  skinned  where 
they  lie,  and  the  skins,  pelts,  scalps,  or  sculps,  as  they  are  called, 
with  the  inner  coat  or  blubber  on  them,  carried  to  the  vessel,  strewed 
about  the  deck  until  their  vital  warmth  is  gone,  and  then  stowed  be- 
low. They,  are  on  an  average,  perhaps  three  feet  long  by  tv/o  and 
a  halt  feet  wide,  and  weigh  from  30  to  50  pounds.  As  many  as  800, 
1,000,  and  even  1,500,  are  sometimes  taken  in  a  day.  When  first 
put  in  the  hold,  the  skins  of  the  young  seals  are  white  and  clean,  like 
lamb  skins ;  but  by  soaking  in  their  own  oil,  they  become  stained  of 
a  dirty  yellow.  The  oil  and  blood  spilled  and  spread  about  in  this 
business  render  the  vessels  employed  in  it  horribly  filthy.  The  seals 
are  of  four  kinds;  thebay  seal,  found  on  the  coast;  the  hooded  seal,  witli 
a  strange  appendage  like  a  hood  which  it  can  draw  over  its  head  ;  the 
"square-flipper,"  and  the  harp  seal,  so  called  from  a  mark  on  its  back. 
This  last  is  the  most  valuable,  and  the  one  commonly  killed. 

The  following  statistics  may  illustrate  the  importance  of  the  New- 
foundland fisheries.  When  the  population  of  the  island  was  101,000, 
in  1851,  all  but  about  3,000  were  occupied  in  the  business  of  fishing. 
In  1852,  the  seal  fishery  employed  3G7  vessels,  of  35,700  tons,  and 
manned  by  13,000  men.  They  took  about  550,000  seals,  whose  pro- 
duce in  skins,  oil,  &.C.,  was  valued  at  £417,020.  In  1850,  the  exports 
of  fish  were  valued  at  £511,050;  of  oil,  at  £297,530.  In  1815,  were 
employed  in  the  shore  fishery,  10,089  boats,  879  cod  seines,  and 
4,5G!:;|  sealing  nets ;  the  latter  used  to  catch  seals  in  narrow  straits 
along  the  coast. 


NEWFOUNDLAND. 


525 


The  bank  fisheries  are,  as  was  already  observed,  mostly  prosecuted 
by  the  French  and  Americans.     They  are  pursued  on  the  "  Banks  of 
Newfoundland,"  which  are  vast  submarine  plateaus  or  table  lands, 
of  rock,  or  of  fine  sand  and  shells,  sometimes  supposea       have  been 
accumulated  by  the  deposition  of  materials  brought  by  the  Gulf 
Stream,  and  thrown  where  it  meets  the  Arctic  currents  from  the  north. 
The  Grand  Bank  is  about  600  miles  long  by  200  wide,  with  a  depth 
of  water  varying  from  25  to  95  fathoms.     It  lies  southwest  of  the 
island  ;  and  a  succession  of  other  banks  continue  from  it  to  the  coast 
of  Nova  Scotia.     The  Outer  Bank,  or  Flemish  Cap,  is  a  sort  of  con- 
tinuation of  the  Grand  Bank,  but  is  separated  from  it  by  about  100  miles 
of  deeper  water.     These  banks  are  overhung  by  constant  fogs,  caused 
by  the  confluence  of  the  warm  waters  of  the  Gulf  Stream  with  the 
colder  waters  and  atmosphere  of  the  north.     These  fogs  often  reach 
the    southern  coast  of  Newfoundland,  sometimes  covering   a  belt 
along  the  shore,  sometimes  standing  like  a  wall  at  the  distance  of  a 
mile  or  two,  leaving  the  intermediate  water  quite  clear.     They  pre- 
vail all  summer  unless  there  is  a  north  or  west  wind ;  but  are  not 
found  on  the  west  and  east  coasts,  nor  in  the  interior. 

On  the  south  coast  of  Newfoundland,  at  the  mouth  of  For- 
tune Bay,  are  three  islands,  called  the  Miquclets,  the  only 
possessions  remaining  to  France,  of  all  her  former  vast  North 
American  dominions.  Their  names  are  Miquelon,  Little  Miquelon, 
or  Langley,  and  St.  Pierre ;  the  former  two  being  connected  by 
a  beach  of  sand  sometimes  dry  enough  to  walk  across,  sometimes  cut 
through  by  storms.  They  are  rugged  and  barren,  producing  scarce- 
ly anything  except  grass  for  the  pasturage  of  a  few  sheep  and  cows, 
and  a  few  garden  vegetables.  White  partridges  are  plentiful  on  them. 
The  inhabitants  are  occupied  in  fishing.  A  French  commandant  is 
stationed  here,  with  a  small  force  of  40  or  50  soldiers,  and  the  com- 
mercial regulations  of  the  harbor,  St.  Pierre,  on  the  island  of  that 
name,  are  vefy  strict.  The  fisheries  in  the  vicinity  are  very  pro- 
ductive ;  and  they  are  the  headquarters  of  all  the  French  fisheries  in 
the  seas  and  on  the  coasts  of  Newfoundland. 

The  Magdalen  Islands,  a  group  .viihin  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
seventy  miles  from  the  southwest  end  of  Newfoundland,  though  no 
longer  under  its  jurisdiction,  should  properly  be  mentioned  here. 
Including  Biron  Island  and  the  Bird  Islands,  the  group  is  about  iifty- 
six  miles  long.  Coffin's  Island,  the  largest,  being  twenty-five  miles  in 
length,  but  very  narrow.     The  group  belonged  to  Admiral  Sir  Isaac 


M 


526 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


^ 


Coffin,  having  been  granted  to  him  by  the  British  government  for 
his  eminent  naval  services ;  and  is  strictly  entailed  in  his  family. 
The  inhabitants  are  about  2,000  in  number,  mostly  Acadian  French, 
and  employed  in  fishing.  Considerable  quantities  of  fish  and  gyp- 
sum are  exported.  Enormous  quantities  of  sea-bird's  eggs  are  taken 
from  the  Bird  Islands. 

The  soil  of  the  Magdalen  Islands  is  a  sandy  loam,  on  a  basis  of 
freestone  rock.  Nearly  all  that  part  of  it  which  can  be  cultivated 
is  occupied  in  raising  potatoes  for  provisions,  and  as  pasture.  A 
little  barley  and  oats  are  also  grown,  and  wheat  would  probably 
ripen.  The  uncultivated  parts  of  the  islands  are  partly  sandy  downs 
thinly  clothed  with  bent  grass,  and  partly  grown  over  with  spruce, 
birch,  and  juniper.  There  is  a  grea^  abundance  of  cranberries  and 
various  other  wild  fruits. 

The  Magdalen  Islands  are  at  present  by  a  most  inconvenient  regu- 
lation, under  the  jurisdiction  of  Canada,  where  they  are  obliged  to 
go  to  attend  court,  at  a  great  expense.  They  are,  of  course,  mostly 
Catholics,  and  have  a  chapel,  where  divine  service  is  performed  by 
a  priest. 


9 


(  I 


I 


s^-^ 


!  I- 


526 


'  itllio.  havii 
I  IK  cm  j  HP,  I' 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 

■■    ,'•,-•      :■■■•■  fA  tH'  'iic   iifilish  govrrnni^- 


,,..,.      .•  =  ...,.,     ^v,(i     ^  strictly  entailed   in   Isii  far 
,"*     ':«-«,-.  Z'%M>   r^  '.iiniber,  mostly  Acadian  Frpn- 

m  i'<yk&*tg^,  CmvuthtviM  qn&mWies  offish  nnd  -■ 
5MrTj  .  •*.  ,^ii,j^;,./-.»«^  Mj«3TTnous  quantities  of  sea-'firti's  eggs  are  i?!^^ 
!.-r,-iv  (•.  *.  .t^ji^  Isiartfis.  :, 

i :.    »«?^^  the  Maj:^dalcn  Tslands  is  a  snndy  loam,  on  a  bt?-- 
;    ',--^>it4>  rook.     Nearly  all  that  part  of  it  which  can  be  culln 
<«•  x'Cupied  in  .raising  potatoes  for  provisions,  and  as  pastui, 
vfftie  barley  and  oats  are  also  grown,  and  wheat  would  proi- 
npeti.     The  uncultivated  parts  of  the  islands  are  uartly  sandy  d' 
thinly  clothed  with  bent  grass,  and  partly  grouu  over  with  sf*r' 
hirch.  and  juniper.     There  is  a  irreal  jabundance  of  cranberriCti' 
various  other  wi^d  t"ruits. 

Tlie  Magdalen  Islands  are  at  present  by  a  most  incohvenicnt 
iHion,  MTider  the!  Tunsdiction  <if  nanad»j''^"here  thev  are  ubiii' "     ■ 
go  to  attend  (-f)nr,  ai  ;i  great  ie8p<»ase.     Tlwy  are,  of  course*  n    '  y 
(/"afhtlics,  and  hifve  a  chapel,  where  divine  service  )-'  periomj*- i  m 


^■J'Y-r- 


vx  -'^" 


m-. 


1 


t    i. 


CAPE  BRETON. 


TOPOGRAPHY.  —  DISCOVERY. — LOUISBOURO    ESTABLISHED. — 
SHIRLEY    PLANS  ITS    REDUCTION,  —  ACCOUNT   OF  THE   SIEGE. 
—  SECOND    SIEGE.  —  DESTRUCTION    OP  THE   PLACE'.  —  CAPE 
BRETON  A  SEPARATE  GOVERNMENT.  —  ENGLISH  SETTLE- 
MENTS.—  THE    BRAS    D'OR. — SYDNEY.  —  ITS    COAL 
MINES.  —  ISTHMUS  AT  ST.  PETER'.S. — OTHER  TOWNS. 
CHARACTER  OP  PEOPLE. — ANIMALS. —  LAND. — 
GEOLOGY.  —  FISHERIES.  —  SHIPPING. — 
VISIT  OF  THE  PRINCE  OF  WALES. 

Tins  island,  though  politically  incorporated  with  Nova  Scotia,  lins 
occupied  .so  distinguished  a  place  in  the  political  history  ot"  North 
America,  that  it  is  entitled  to  a  separate  account  in  this  work. 

Cape  Breton,  known  to  the  French  as  1'  Isle  Royale,  is  so  situated 
at  the  opening  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  as  to  be  the  military 
key  to  Canada,  conunanding  all  access  to  the  St.  Lawrence  River, 
except  by  the  distant  ami  iacommodious  route  of  the  Straits  of  IJcll- 
isle.  It  is  about  one  hundred  miles  long  by  eighty  wide,  and  con- 
si.sts  of  two  natural  divisions;  the  southern,  comparatively  low,  and 
much  intersected  by  bodies  of  water,  and  the  northern,  of  high  and 
rugged  land,  in  a  more  compact  form.  These  two  portions  lie  some- 
what in  the  shape  of  an  arm  bent  up,  thoii  junction,  answering  to 
the  elbow,  i)()intii)g  southwest  toward  Nova  Scotia,  and  divided 
from  it  by  the  Cut  of  Canscau,  which  is  only  almut  a  mile  wide  ;  and 
the  two  extremities,  corresponding  to  the  hand  and  the  shoulders, 
ranging  north  of  east  and  cast  of  north  toward  Newfoundland. 
The  space  between  these  divisions  is  an  extensive  basin  or  land- 
locked bay,  into  which  the  waters  of  the  ocean  enter  through  a 
channel  more  than  forty  miles  long,  divided  into  two  narrow  ones  by 
the  island  of  Hi>ularderie,  extending  great  part  of  its  length.  The 
V,,,..  IV._(5'2. 


I 


528 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


circuit  of  the  coast  measures  275  miles,  and  its  southern  part  con- 
tains many  bays  and  harbors ;  while  in  the  northern  there  are  few 
places  of  safety  for  shipping.  The  shores  are  bold,  and  generally 
free  from  rocks.  Its  surface  contains  in  all  about  3,120  square 
miles. 

The  island  was  first  discovered  by  Cabot,  and  afterwards  by  the 
Italian  voyager  Verazzani,  who  named  it  Isle  du  Cap.  The  name 
of  Isle  Royale  was  given  it  by  the  French  in  1713.  In  1714,  the 
first  settlements  were  made  upon  it,  by  a  few  French  fishermen  from 
Newfoundland  and  Acadia,  who  established  themselves  in  a  scattered 
manner  along  the  coast,  as  each  one  found  convenient  space  for  dry- 
ing fish  or  laying  out  a  garden.  No  regular  establishment  was  how- 
ever made  until  1720,  when  the  French,  in  order  to  secure  them- 
selves a  depot  for  their  fisheries  and  the  means  of  commanding  the 
entrance  to  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  con)merce  of  Canada,  founded 
the  celebrated  military  town  of  Louisbourg,  upon  a  safe  and  com- 
modious harbor  near  the  southeastern  angle  of  the  island,  fortified  it 
at  an  expense  of  30,000,000  of  livres,  raised  it  quickly  to  importance 
as  a  depot  of  naval  and  land  forces  and  commerce,  and  gathered  in 
it  a  population  of  5,000. 

In  i745,  in  revenge  for  some  ill-judged  attacks  by  the  French  on 
the  English  in  Nova  Scotia,  the  famous  first  siege  of  Louisbourg 
was  [)lanned  and  performed.  It  is  said  to  have  been  first  suggested 
to  Governor  Shirley  of  Massachusetts,  by  a  trader  who  had  been 
within  the  town.  Shirley  sent  to  England  for  permission  and  aid  in 
the  autumn  of  1744  ;  but  laid  the  scheme  before  the  General  Court 
of  IMassachusetts  under  a  pledge  of  secrecy,  in  the  spring,  witiiout 
waiting  for  an  answer  from  home.  It  was  rejected  at  first,  but  was 
accidentally  revealed  by  a  pious  member,  who  at  family  prayers 
asked  Cod's  blessing  on  the  enterpri.se.  liecoujing  rapidly  known, 
and  everywhere  popular,  petitions  lor  it  came  in  from  all  over  the 
colony  ;  it  was  reconsidered  in  the  general  court,  resolved  on  by  a 
majority  of  one,  circulars  sent  to  the  other  colonies  for  aid,  and  the 
raising  (»f  forces  commenced  at  once.  More  than  3,200  were  en- 
listed in  Massachusetts,  500  from  (^)nnectlcuf,  and  300  from  New 
IFampshire,  together  with  a  naval  force  of  ten  vessels,  the  largest 
<»f  twenty  guns,  together  with  a  few  armed  sloops.  All  this  was 
done  in  two  months;  the  command  was  bestowed  on  (^olonel  Wil- 
liam IVp|>errell  of  Ivittery,  Maine,  nn  afTablc  and  inlluenlial  mr.)  and 
shrewd  merchant,  but  no  great  soldier.     Great  enthusip  iti  prevailed; 


CAPE    BRETON. 


529 


(1  ill 

(Hirl 
iiout 
was 

\  (MS 

)\\n, 
the 

by  a 

the 

en- 

|Ne\v 

rgest 
was 

hVil- 
■\iiil 

Lileil ; 


George  Whitefield,  ihe  famous  preacher,  gave  the  army  for  a  motto 
for  its  (lag,  "Nil   desperandum  Christo  duce ;"  and  one  of  the  chap- 
lains carried  a  great  hatchet,  to  destroy  the  images  in  tlie  French 
churches.     Shirley  sent  to  Commodore  Warren,  commander  on  the 
West  India  station,  for  cooperation,  but  he  declined,  having  no  orders. 
Greatly  disappointed,  Shirley  however  concealed  this  fact,  and  em- 
barking on  the  4th  of  April,  the  provincial  army  reached  Canscau  in 
safety,  but  were  detained  there  by  ice  for  two  weeks.     Here  they 
were  rejoiced  by  the  arrival  of  Warren,  who  had  received  orders 
from  home  to  assist  them,  and  who  after  consulting  with  l'ei)i)errell, 
proceeded  to  cruise  before   Louisbourg.     On  the    Uilh,'  the   army 
arrived  near  Louisbourg,  the  first  intimation  of  its  coming  being  the 
appearance  of  the  transports.     The  landing  was  etfected  witliout 
dilficulty  ;  and  the  siege  being  at  once  formed,  Lieutenant-colonel 
Vaughan  with  some  New  Hampshire  troops,  marched   round  to  tiie 
northeast   part  of  the   harbor   by  night  and  set  fire  to  some   ware- 
houses with  naval  stores  and  liquors.     The  smoke  was  carried  across 
the  harbor  into  the  Grand  Battery,  whose  occupants  were  so  terrified 
that  they  spiked  their  guns  and  tied  into  the  city,  and  A'aughan,  occu- 
pying the  battery  next  morning,  drilled  the  guns  and   turned   ihem 
upon  the  city  with  elVect.     During  fourteen  successive  nights,  and 
some  foggy  days,  the  hardy  New  Englanders  did  oxen's  work,  draw- 
ing across  a  morass  within  plain  view  of  the  fortress  and  reach  of 
its  guns,  the  heavy  guns  for  a  breaching  battery  ;  hauling  them  on 
sledges  by  shoulder-straps  through  mud  knee-deep.     Duchanibon,  the 
French  comm'    Jant,  was  summoned  on  the  7th  of  May,  in  vain  ; 
the    attack    was    vigorously    pushed,   and    five   breaching    batteries 
erected,  which  destroyed  the  western  gate  of  th.e  town,  and  injured 
the  circular  battery.     IJut  so  well  constructed  were  the  fortifications, 
and  so  vigorous  the  defense,  that  five  successive  atliu-ks  on  the  bat- 
teries of  the  island  at  the   harbor's  mouth  were  all  repulsed,  the  last 
with  a  loss  of  nearly  200  men.     Warren,  however,   had  taken  the 
Vigilant,  a  French  seventy-four,  with  500  men  and  a  vast  (pianlity 
of  military  stores  intended  lor  the  town,  but  which  seasonably  supplied 
suiiie  painful  deficiencies  in  the  cantp  of  the  besiegers.     This  unwel- 
come news  was  carefully  thrown  in  the  enemy's  way  ;   preparations 
were  at  the  same  time  made  for  a  general  assault ;  and  Duchanibon, 
who  had  not  dared  to  make  any  sorties,  by  reason  of  the  very  mutinous 
disposition  of  his  men,  found  himself  under  t!>e  neces.iity  of  oHering  to 
cai>ilulale.     On  the  KUh  of  June,  accordingly,  the  town  surrendered 


530 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


W 


Thus  a  powerful  fortress  was  reduced  on  a  plan  drawn  up  by  a 
colonial  lawyer,  and  executed  by  a  body  of  colonial  husbandmen 
and  tradesmen.  The  works,  which  cost  not  less  than  90,000,000 
livres,  consisted  of  a  broad  stone  rampart  thirty  feet  high,  with  a 
wide  ditch  and  glacis,  having  two  bastions  and  two  demi-bastions 
on  the  land  side,  and  between  which  and  the  high  ground  to  the 
rear  were  deep  morasses  and  ponds.  The  mouth  of  the  harbor  was 
defended  by  a  battery  of  twenty  guns  on  tlie  point  of  the  town ; 
another  of  thirty-six  twcnty-four-pounders  on  the  light-house  point 
across  the  harbor's  mouth ;  two  others  of  forty-eight  great  guns,  on 
the  island  in  the  entrance ;  another  of  five  guns,  in  the  line  of  the 
works ;  another  of  fifteen  guns  on  the  light-house  point,  but  further 
iii,  and  lastly,  by  two  batteries  at  the  bottom  of  the  harbor,  one  of 
fifteen  guns,  and  the  other,  called  the  Grand  or  Royal  Battery,  of 
twenty-cigiit  thirty-six-pounders,  and  two  eighteen  pounders.  There 
was  also  a  strong  boom  within  which  vessels  of  war  could  be  taken 
for  defense. 

When  tiie  ))rovincials  entered  the  town  they  were  confounded  at 
the  strength  of  the  works ;  and  it  was  conceded  that  the  proposed 
assault  must  undoubtedly  have  failed.  Indeed,  the  wliole  enterprise 
was  a  most  remarkable  series  of  fortunate  chances.  Had  'Mt  W;ir- 
ren  cooperated,  the  attack  would  have  been  hopeless  ;  had  not  the 
garrison  been  mutinous,  the  besieging  works  could  scarcely  have 
been  erected  ;  had  not  the  force  in  the  grand  battery  been  so  fool- 
ishly friglitened  out  of  it,  the  most  cfiicient  point  of  the  attiick 
would  not  hiive  been  gained  ;  had  not  Warren  taken  the  Vigilant, 
its  men  and  st(}res  would  have  insi)irited  the  garrison  beyond  any 
idea  of  surrender ;  had  not  the  whole  forty-nine  Hays  of  the  siege 
been  remiukably  fine,  the  works  could  not  have  been  carried  on, 
nor  the  troops  been  preserved  in  working  order.  Fifteen  hundred 
of  them  wei(^  ill  with  dysentery  as  it  was;  the  very  day  after  the 
surrender  a  ton  days'  rain  set  in,  which  would  infallibly  have  broken 
up  the  siege. 

Three  other  vessels,  valued  in  all  at  £((00,000,  were  a  few  days 
afterwards  decoyed  into  the  harbor  and  taken.  The  i>lace  was,  to 
the  great  mortification  of  the  colonists,  returned  to  the  I'reiu'h  i»y 
the  treaty  of  Aix-la-Cluipelle  in  1718,  in  exchange  for  Madras.  Ihit 
ten  years  afte:-wards,  it  was  again  besieged,  in  July  17r)N,  by  a  liritish 
army  umlcr  (Jenerals  Amherst.  Lawrence  and  Wolfe,  and  a  llift 
under  IJoscawen,  being  10,000  land  lijrces  and  157  ships.     Against 


CAPE    BRETON 


531 


linsl 


this  powerful  fleet  and  army,  the  French  under  M.  de  Drucourt, 
whose  wile  was  constantly  on  the  ramparts  animating  the  soldiers, 
made  a  most  heroic  defense  for  eigliteen  days,  when  they  were 
obliged  to  capitulate.  The  combatants  were  now  mostly  sent  to 
France,  and  the  sea  and  land  forces  of  the  garrison,  to  the  number  of 
5,120,  carried  prisoners  to  England.  The  stores  and  ammunition,  and 
the  :227  cannon,  constituted  a  prize  of  immense  value.  The  British 
government,  fearing  that  Louisbourg  might  again  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  French,  resolved  to  destroy  it,  notwithstanding  the  inmionse 
expense  and  value  of  its  fortifications  and  buildings,  which  included 
two  fine  churches,  a  hospital,  a  number  of  handsome  stone  houses 
for  the  officers,  and  various  other  public  buildings.  The  houses  were 
accordingly  burned  or  torn  down,  and  the  fortificatioi  s  blown  up 
with  gunpowder.  The  site  of  the  town,  formerly  so  flourisliing,  is 
now  a  melancholy  and  silent  scene  of  deserted  ruins,  inhabited  only 
by  a  few  obscure  fishermen,  and  pastured  by  a  few  sheep ;  a  sad 
monument  of  the  instability  of  human  fortunes. 

During  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  after  the  destruction  of 
Louisbourg,  Cape  Breton  remained  unoccupied  except  by  a  few  scat- 
tered fishermen,  and  neglected  by  its  new  owners  the  English.  After 
the  peace  uf  Paris  in  1738,  it  was,  howevc,  erected  into  a  separate 
government,  under  Lieutenant-tiovernor  Desbarres  and  an  execu- 
tivc  council.  The  town  of  Sydney  was  now  laid  out  for  a  capital, 
and  the  public  offices  established  there.  But  the  island  did  not  pros- 
per under  this  arrangement ;  and  since  18"J0  it  has  been  reannexed 
to  Nova  Scotia,  of  which  it  now  forms  two  counties. 

'J'he  Enu;lish  settlements  scarcelv  began  until  after  the  American 
revolution,  at  which  time  a  number  of  loyalist  families  removed  into 
it.  In  1800  settlers  began  to  comb  in  from  tiie  highlands  and  islands 
of  Scotland;  from  which  regions  a  steady  influx  continued  for  many 
years.  'I'he  [jopulation,  now  amounting  to  more  than  (50,000  of 
Scotch,  French  and  Irish  descent,  is  distributed  over  \hv  island,  except 
in  the  rugged  districts  of  its  northern  portion.  The  Scotch  are  most 
mnnerous  ;  and  are  found  on  the  shores  of  the  Bras  d'Or,  on  the  Cuit  of 
C'anseau  and  along  the  coast  to  Port  Hood  or  Justaucorps  Harbor, 
and  at  Cape  jNIabon  and  St.  Esprit.  Tjie  Acadians  are  chiefly  at 
Arichat,  Petit  de  Grat,  Ardoise,  the  little  Bras  d'Or,  IMarguerite  and 
Cheticamp.  There  arc  also  some  English,  Jerseymen,  and  Hutch, 
and  two  or  three  hundred  Micmac  Indians,  mostly  W(jrthless  and  de- 
graded vagabonds.     They  have  several   reservations  of  land,  and  u 


532 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


burying-ground  and  chai)el  at  Chapel  Island  in  the  Bras  d'Or.  They 
are  nominally  Catholics.  The  surface  of  Cape  Breton  is  still  mostly 
covered  with  woods,  which  contain  much  valuable  timber.  This  is  a 
valuable  article  of  export,  chiefly  from  the  Bras  dOr ;  and  affords 
materials  for  the  building  of  many  vessels. 

The  interior  of  the  island  is  penetrated  by  a  singular  arm  of  the 
sea,  already  mentioned  by  its  name  of  the  Bras  d'Or,  or  Golden  Arm, 
and  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  produced  by  volcanic  action  at 
some  very  remote  period.  This  inlet  enters  the  island  a  little  north 
of  Sydney,  by  a  passage  about  twenty-five  miles  long  divided  into 
two,  from  a  fourth  of  a  mile  to  three  miles  wide,  by  Boularderie 
Island,  a  narrow  tract  of  land  twenty  miles  in  length,  and  from  one 
to  two  in  breadth.  The  northern  entrance  is  safe  for  large  vessels, 
the  southern  for  small  ones  only.  Where  these  singular  inlets  unite, 
they  open  into  what  is  commonly  called  Great  Bras  d'Or  Lake,  about 
20  miles  by  lo;  and  which  branches  into  various  smaller  bays,  the 
chief  of  which  are  named  Whykokomagh,  Denys,  West  Bay,  Soklier 
Gulf,  and  the  East  Arm.  The  waters  of  the  Bras  d'Or  are  deep,  and 
have  many  safe  narbors.  Codfish  are  caught  in  it  at  all  seasons,  in 
winter  through  holes  cut  in  the  ice,  and  in  summer  by  boats.  Bou- 
larderie Island,  and  all  the  inner  shores  of  the  Bras  d'Or,  are  occu- 
pied by  fishermen  and  farmers ;  much  of  the  land  being  of  excellent 
quality.  The  whole  depth  of  this  great  inlet,  from  the  sea  to  its 
furthest  point,  is  about  50  miles.  Throughout  the  whole  island,  more 
especially  in  its  southern  portion,  numberless  small  lakes  are  found, 
and  very  numerous  streams  of  water.  The  largest  lake  is  Ainslie, 
or  Marguerite  Lake,  about  twelve  miles  by  four,  which  conuiiuni- 
cates  with  the  sea  by  Marguerite  river. 

Sydney,  which  was  the  capital  of  Cape  Breton  while  a  separate 
government,  occupies  a  beautiful  situation  on  a  point  of  land  be- 
tween Dartmouth  River  and  an  arm  of  Sydney  harbor.  Its  harbor 
is  safe  and  commodious,  and  its  business  extensive  and  growing, 
principally  in  the  products  of  the  celebrated  Sydney  coal  mines. 
The  coal  beds  in  this  vicinity  are  computed  to  extend  over  250 
square  miles,  with  practicable  seams,  the  main  stratum  being  six  feet 
thick.  Fifteen  miles  distant  are  the  Bridgeport  mines,  where  the 
bed  is  nine  feet  thick.  The  Sydney  coal  is  carried  by  a  railway 
three  miles,  and  transferred  from  the  cars  on  a  wharf  to  the  shi[)S. 
It  is  principally  shipped  to  the  United  States. 

'I'lic  coast  between  Sydney  and  Louisbourg  exhibits  exposed  strata 


I 


CAPE     BRKTON. 


533 


of  coal  in  many  places ;  and  at  one  poinl  masses  of  cinders  mark  the 
spot  where  it  was  once  set  on  fire  and  continued  burning  for  some 
years. 

St.  Peter's  is  a  small  settlement  at  the  isthmus  which  connects  the 
northern  and  southern  portions  of  the  island.  The  distance  at  tliis 
point  between  the  head  of  St.  Peter's  Bay  and  the  Bras  d'Or,  is  only 
about  900  yards.  Persons  traveling  between  the  shore  of  Bras  d'Or 
and  Nova  Scotia,  or  elsewhere,  often  draw  their  boats  across  the 
isthmus  with  oxen ;  a  route  for  a  canal  has  been  surveyed  across  it, 
which  would  cost,  as  estimated,  about  £17,000,  and  would  be  of  very 
great  advantage  to  the  island. 

Arichat,  on  Madame  Island,  at  the  southern  entrance  of  the  Gut 
of  Canseau,  is  the  most  flourishing  town  of  Cape  Breton.  Its  popu- 
lation, which  is  over  2,000,  mostly  Acadian  French,  are  employed  in 
fishing  and  in  the  coasting  trade.  It  is  a  port  of  entry,  and  exports 
considerable  quantities  of  cured  fish. 

The  Gut  of  Canseau  is  a  narrow  passage  about  twenty-one  miles 
long,  and  in  many  places  only  about  one  mile  wide.  It  is  the  safest 
and  nearest  passage  into  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  is  crowded 
with  vessels  during  the  summer  and  autumn.  The  scenery  along  its 
shores  is  picturesque  and  sublime  ;  and  its  tides  present  some  curi- 
ous phenomena,  sometimes  flowing  the  same  way  for  several  suc- 
cessive days. 

Port  Hood,  or  Justaucorps  Harbor,  eighteen  miles  north  of  the 
Gut  of  the  Canseau,  has  an  excellent  harbor,  good  fisheries,  and 
about  it  is  much  good  pasture  land.  Gheticamp,  a  fishing  town  sev- 
enteen miles  north  of  Marguerite  River,  on  the  western  coast,  has  a 
harbor  for  schooners,  and  some  fishing  establishments.  The  coast 
from  this  point  to  North  Cape  is  iron-bound  and  precipitous,  almost 
uninhabited,  and  has  been  the  scene  of  very  many  dreadful  ship- 
wrecks. Cape  North  is  a  rocky  point,  at  the  extreme  northern  end 
of  the  island.  Between  it  and  Cape  Egmont,  on  the  eastern  or  At- 
lantic coast,  is  Asp6  Bay,  which  has  a  very  fine  beach,  on  which  is 
found  a  fine  heavy  black  sand,  consisting  almost  entirely  of  iron. 
Many  coins  are  from  time  to  time  thrown  up  here  by  the  sea,  doubt- 
loss  from  some  wreck.  The  soil  in  its  vicinity  is  fertile,  but  the  fogs 
of  the  fishing  banks  render  the  climate  uncertain  for  some  of  the 
slower  crops,  such  as  wheat. 

The  towns  and  localities  thus  enumerated  are  those  of  most  im- 
portance and  interest  on  the  island  of  Cape  Breton.     Communica- 


534 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED, 


tion  amongst  them  is  to  a  great  extent  by  water ;  the  roads  not 
being  very  good,  though  now  increasing  in  number  and  improving 
in  quahty. 

The  inhabitants  are  remarkably  tenacious  of  their  various  hered- 
itary manners  and  customs,  and  of  their  rehgious  opinions  and  modes 
of  worship.  Tiiey  are  almost  universally  in  circumstances  of  com- 
fort, but  are  not  remarkably  neat  nor  thorough  in  household  economy 
or  in  agriculture.  Tlie  singular  maritime  advantages  of  their  situa- 
tion, and  tlie  mineral  and  natural  productions  of  the  island,  also  fre- 
quently draw  them  away  from  the  quiet  and  unexciting  pursuit  of 
farming. 

The  animals  and  fish  of  Cape  Breton  are  similar  to  those  of  Nova 
Scotia  and  Xew  Brunswick.  The  moose,  formerly  plentiful,  has  be- 
come quite  scarce,  having  been  indiscriminately  slaughtered  merely 
for  their  skins.  The  caribou  is  still  found,  and  very  fine  salmon 
and  trout  may  be  caught  in  great  abundance. 

It  is  computed  that  about  500,000  acres  of  good  farming  land  may 
be  found  Oil  the  island,  all  capable  of  pasturing  sheep  and  cattle,  and 
very  much  of  it  of  bearing  fine  crops  of  barley,  rye,  buckwheat, 
potatoes,  hemp  and  flax.  The  best  land  is  found  around  the  Bras 
dOr,  on  the  streams  entering  it,  and  along  many  of  the  other  ri\er 
valleys.  Fogs  and  rains  are  quite  prevalent  on  the  Atlantic  const, 
but  the  climate  is  on  the  whole  remarkably  healthy,  and  instances 
are  frecjuent  of  persons  who  attain  to  the  age  of  ninety  and  even  a 
hundred  years. 

The  rocks  of  Cape  Breton  are  chiefly  granite,  limestones,  and 
primitive  slate.  The  coal  deposits  of  Sydney  have  already  been 
mentioned  ;  and  other  ]»rofitable  mines  are  worked  in  several  parts 
of  the  southern  district.  Excellent  iron  ore  is  also  found  in  large 
quantities.  There  are  some  fine  salt  springs,  and  large  deposits 
of  gypsum. 

While  the  French  occupied  Louisliourg,  it  is  said  that  not  less 
than  500,000  quinti-ls  of  codfish  were  exported  yearly  from  Cape 
Breton,  and  that  UOO  vessels  were  occupied  in  its  trade  and  fishery. 
The  fisheries  are  still  the  most  important  of  its  interests ;  and  the 
following  statistics,  from  the  latest  accessible  public  returns,  describe 
its  present  exports  and  imports.  They  are,  however,  known  to  be 
very  far  below  the  actual  amount,  intrily  owing  to  the  difllculty  of 
scjiarating  them  from  the  returns  of   Nova  Scotia. 

The  number  of  vessels  clearing  inward  at  the  ports  of  Cape  Bre- 


CAPE    BRETON. 


535 


ton  in  1850,  was  508,  of  48,001  tons;  clearing  outward,  505,  of 
30,924  tons.  Coal  raised  at  the  Sydney  mines  in  1851,  53,000  chal- 
drons. Total  value  of  imports  for  1850,  £27,495 ;  of  exports, 
£07,802.  To  illustrate,  however,  the  inadequacy  of  these  ollicial 
returns,  we  may  add  tl^at  where  the  total  quantity  of  the  item  of 
mackerel  cured  in  .'i-c  island,  was  returned  in  1848,  as  14,050  bar- 
rels, it  was  calculated  that  during  one  of  the  years  immediately  fol- 
lowing, 100,000  barrels  were  cured  at  the  single  port  of  Cheticamp. 

The  material  resources  of  Cape  Breton  are  still  but  very  little 
developed.  The  island  is  capable  of  supporting  a  population  of  two 
or  three  hundred  thousand,  instead  of  about  a  quarter  of  that  num- 
ber; and  its  mines,  fisheries  and  forests,  would  furnisli  wealth  infi- 
nitely greater  than  has  yet  been  gathered  from  them. 

Although  exceedingly  brief,  the  late  visit  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  to 
this  portion  of  his  future  colonial  dominions  should  not  be  omitted. 
It  was  found  necessary  to  touch  at  Sydney  for  the  purpose  of  coal- 
ing, on  the  passage  from  Newfoundland  to  Halifax.  The  Prince 
took  advantage  of  the  delay  to  land  and  examine  the  country.  He 
was  received  by  a  company  of  volunteers  summoned  together  in 
haste,  and  by  the  inhabitants,  who  testified  much  delight  at  the  visit. 
The  Prince  visited  an  encampmeui  of  Micmac  Indians  near  the 
town,  inspected  their  tents  and  household  arrangements  with  much 
curiosity,  and  purchased  some  of  their  little  wares.  The  visit  was 
of  course  short  and  informal,  not  permitting  extensive  demonstra- 
tions nor  great  crowds  ;  but  was  very  gratifying  to  the  loyal  inhabit- 
ants of  Sydney. 


—  :il 


1 
! 

1 
1 


PRIICE  EDWARD'S  ISLAND. 


DISCOVERY.  —  GRANT  TO    DOUBLET.  —  FRENCH     POSSESSION. — 
ENGLISH  SEIZURE.  — EGREIIONT'S  FEUDAL  SCHEME. —  ISLAND 
GIVEN  AWAY  BY  LOTTERY. — GOVERNMENT  ORGANIZED. — 
LIST  OF  GOVERNORS. — POPULATION. — TOPOGRAPHY. — 
GEOLOGY,  —  NATIVE    TREES    AND    ANIMALS. — FISH- 
ERIES, WHY  NOT    DEVELOPED.  —  AGRICULTURE, — 
CLIMATE.  —  COMMERCE. — CHARLOTTE  TOWN. — 
CHARACTER  OF  PEOPLE.  —  RELIGION.  —  EDUCA- 
TION.  GOVERNMENT. WEALTH  AND  GOOD 

PROSPECTS.  —  PRINCE  OF  WALES'  VISIT    IN 
1860. 


In  June,  1497,  Sebastian  Cabot,  having  discovered  Newfoundland 
just  before,  sighted  the  land  of  Prince  Edward's  Island,  which  he 
named  St.  John's  Island  from  the  day  of  its  discovery.  This  name 
was  retained  until  1799,  when  it  was  changed  in  consequence  of 
the  confusion  arising  from  there  being  so  many  other  localities  bear- 
ing it,  and  was  called  Prince  Edward's  Island,  in  honor  of  the  Duke 
of  Kent,  the  father  of  her  Majesty  the  Queen. 

Cabot's  discovery  was  not  made  the  basis  of  any  claim  to  owner- 
ship by  the  English ;  and  Verrazani  having  discovered  it  again  in 
1523,  it  was  claimed  and  taken  possession  of  by  the  French  govern- 
ment, his  employers.  In  10(53  it  was  granted,  togeiher  with  the  Mag- 
dalen group  and  the  islands  near  them,  to  a  certain  Sieur  Doublet, 
a  captain  in  the  French  navy,  to  be  held  by  him  as  vassal  to  a  cor- 
poration called  the  company  of  Miscou.  Doublet  was  associated  with 
two  companies  concerned  in  fishing  ;  but  they  made  no  other  use  of 
the  island  than  to  establish  a  few  fishing  stations  upon  it.  After  the 
treaty  of  Utrecht  in  1715,  the  French  from  the  mainland  and  Cape 
Breton,  finding  the  soil  excellent,  began  to  enter  it  in  such  consider- 


PRINCE    EDWARD'S    'SLAND. 


537 


able  numbers,  that  the  French  government  apprehended  the  extinction 
of  the  fishing  establishments  at  Louisbourg  and  elsewhere,  and  accord- 
ing to  the  rude  coercive  policy  ot'  the  times,  at  once  prohibited  fish- 
ing  except  at  one  or  two  of  the  harbors.  When  the  English  seized 
Nova  Scotia,  many  of  the  Acadians  fled  to  the  island,  which  became 
the  headquarters  of  the  desultory  warfare  kept  up  by  the  French  and 
Indians  against  the  English  untij  the  latter  took  possession  of  it  after 
the  second  seige  of  Louisbourg  in  1758.  Lord  Rollo,  who  was  in 
command  of  the  party,  found  in  the  house  of  the  French  governor 
an  immense  number  of  English  scalps,  which  the  Micmacs  had 
brought  in  and  been  paid  for.  The  island  had  been  a  principal  re- 
sort of  that  tribe  from  time  immemorial ;  and  in  some  of  their  usual 
places  of  summer  encampment,  near  oyster  beds,  the  shells  of  the 
oysters  they  caught  still  cover  the  ground  for  acres  together,  to  the 
depth  of  from  one  to  six  feet. 

In  17G3,  the  island  was  ceded  to  Great  Britain  with  the  remainder 
of  the  French  North  American  colonies.  In  the  next  year  a  gene- 
ral government  survey  of  the  British  possessions  in  North  America 
was  commenced  by  order  of  government,  and  that  of  Prince  Ed- 
ward's Island  was  finished  in  1776.  The  value  of  the  island  was 
now  recognized,  and  various  plans  were  discursed  for  settling  it,  one 
oT  which,  [)roposed  by  Lord  Egremont,  then  first  lord  of  the  admiral- 
ty, was  that  he  should  himself  be  created  lord  paramount  of  the 
island,  and  that  it  should  be  divided  into  twelve  baronies,  to  be  held 
by  as  many  barons  of  him  on  a  feudal  tenure,  each  baron  to  erect 
a  castle,  maintain  a  military  force,  and  sub-let  his  property  to  feudal 
sub-tenants.  It  was  at  last  decided  to  lay  off  the  island  into  si.\ty- 
seven  townships  of  about  20,000  acres,  and  to  give  these  to  a  number 
of  persons  who  had  claims  on  the  government.  The  applicants  were 
60  numerous,  that  this  plan  was  finally  followed  by  a  means  of  a  dis- 
tribution by  lot,  with  tickets  for  third,  half,  and  whole  townships. 
Each  township  was  to  pay  from  2s.  to  Os.  per  annum  for  each  hun- 
dred acres,  and  to  be  settled  by  one  settler  to  each  two  hundred  acres 
within  ten  years,  otherwise  the  grants  were  to  be  void.  This 
lottery  was  drawn,  and  thus  the  whole  l,3ii0,000  acres,  all  except  a 
township  or  two,  given  away  in  one  day. 

But  the  plan  did  not  turn  out  well.  Many  of  the  proprietors  never 
intended  to  s(;ttle  on  the  island,  but  niorely  to  trade  in  their  land,  and 
some  of  them  had  not  the  means  to  pcrfoim  the  conditions  of  the  gift;  so 
that  the  mandamuses  or  warrants  for  grants  quickly  became  on  article 


508 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


of  trade,  and  many  of  tlicni  were  l)ougIit  up  on  speculation.  Tlie  pro- 
prietors now  petitioned  to  have  the  i.shmd  made  a  separate  government, 
and  governor  Walter  Patterson  and  officers  were  sent  out  in  1770, 
there  being  only  five  resident  proprietors  and  150  families  on  the 
island.  In  1773  the  first  colonial  legislature  met.  In  November 
1775,  two  armed  American  vessels  jilundered  Charlotte  Town,  and 
carried  ofl'  the  governor,  surveyor-general,  and  a  number  of  the 
council.  Upon  reaching  the  American  headquarters  however. 
Gen  Washington  severely  reproved  the  captains,  and  sent  back  the 
prisoners  and  their  property,  with  great  kindness  and  many  expres- 
sions of  regret. 

Governor  Patterson's  administration  extended  to  1789.  lie  made 
some  exertions  to  promote  settlements,  but  most  of  his  term  of  olFice 
was  embittered  by  quarrels  with  the  proprietors  about  quit-rents  (hie 
the  crown.  He  was  succeeded  by  General  Fanning,  a  native  of  the 
United  States,  and  who  was  mostly  absorbed  in  endeavoring  to  ac- 
quire a  large  landed  estate  in  the  island.  In  this  he  succeeded,  gaining 
at  the  same  time  the  reputation  of  being  the  most  severe  landlord  in 
the  colony.  Fanning's  successor.  Gov.  Desbarres,  though  aged,  was 
a  man  of  liberality  and  talents,  and  the  colony  flourished  under  his 
administration.  He  was  succeeded,  in  1813,  by  Charles  Doiighis 
Smith,  Esq.,  a  brother  of  the  celebrated  naval  commander  Sir  Syd- 
ney Smith  ;  a  man  of  an  arbitrary  and  violent  temper,  who  involved 
himself  in  a  series  of  bitter  quarrels  with  the  assembly  and  other 
colonial  officers,  which  resulted  in  his  removal.  Col.  Readv  was 
appointed  in  his  place,  in  18'24.  The  remaining  governors  are  as 
follows:  Sir  Arctas  Young,  appointed  1831;  Sir  Charles  Augustine 
Fitzroy,  1837;  Capt.  II.  Yere  Huntley,  ISIO;  Sir  U.  Campell,  IS.'jO; 
Sir  Alexander  Banncrman,  1851  ;  Sir  Dominic  Daley,  1851,  and 
George  Dundas,  Escp,  1S5S. 

A  good  measure  of  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  island  is  af- 
forded by  the  progress  of  the  po[)ulation.  This  was,  in  1758,  about 
6,000;  in  1802,20,071;  in  1822,21,000;  in  1825,28,000;  in  1^S3, 
32,292;  in  1841,  47,031;  in  1848,  G2.G78  ;  in  1854,  90,000.  While 
the  Duke  of  Kent  was  coinn.ander  of  the  forces  in  Nova  Scotia,  he 
did  mucii  for  the  island,  organizing  a  provincial  force  of  cavalry  and 
infantry,  and  causing  the  erection  of  efficient  batteries  for  the  de- 
fense of  Charlotte  Town;  so  that  during  the  wars  with  France  from 
1792  to  1815,it  was  never  molested  by  any  enemy. 

A  measure  which  gave  a  very  great  impulse  to  tiie  enterprise  and 


PRINCE    EDWARD'S     ISLAND. 


539 


prosperity  of  the  colony  was  the  final  eoniimitation  efTected  durinir 
the  years  1801-4,  for  the  arrears  of  sovornmcnt  quit-rents,  which 
had  been  accumuhiting  since  17G9.  Tl)e  townships  were  classed  ac- 
cording to  circumstances,  and  assessed  at  from  4  to  15  years  rpiit- 
rcnts  as  they  could  bear.  The  quit-rent  system  however  continued 
an  inconvenient  and  unpopular  mode  of  raising  revenue,  and  a  move- 
ment was  commenced  in  1833,  which  resulted  in  its  discontinuance, 
and  the  substitution  of  other  and  more  usual  modes  of  raising  the 
necessary  income  of  the  province. 

Prince  Edward's  Island  lies  in  a  sort  of  nook  or  bar  of  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence,  embraced  as  it  were  between  the  horns  of  the 
deep  curve  formed  by  the  shore  of  New  Brunswick,  Xova  Scotiu 
and  Cape  Breton.  It  is  about  140  miles  long,  fifteen  to  thirty-four 
miles  broad,  and  contains  a  total  area  u\  ;J,134  scpiare  miles,  or 
1,300,000  acres.  It  is  deeply  indented  by  two  large  bays,  Hills- 
borough bay  on  the  south  and  Richmond  Bay  on  the  north,  which 
divide  it  naturally  into  three  sections,  connected  by  comparatively 
narrow  isthmuses.  Other  bays  anrl  deep  rivers  penetrate  it  so  fre- 
quently and  far  that  scarcely  any  ])ortion  of  it  is  more  than  eight 
miles  from  tide-water.  The  appearance  of  the  island  is  picturesque 
and  pleasing,  though  without  bold  features.  Most  of  its  surface  is 
level  or  gently  undulating,  there  being  scarcely  any  high  lands  ex- 
cept a  chain  of  not  very  high  hills  crossing  the  island  in  the  middle, 
from  De  Sable  to  Grenville  Bay. 

No  limestone,  gypsum,  coal,  iron,  or  other  merchantable  mineral 
has  been  discovered  on  the  island.  Its  rock  is  almost  invariably  a 
red  sandstone,  an  occasional  isolated  boulder  of  granite  being  found, 
lodged  by  ice  in  some  previous  age  of  the  world.  There  is,  however, 
abundance  of  good  brick  clay,  and  potter's  clay.  The  soil  is  usually 
a  light  reddish  loam,  in  some  places  approaching  the  character  of 
elav,  in  others  sandv,  but  sandv  portioi-.s  of  a  dark  color  are  com- 
monly  very  fertile.  The  soil  is  strong  and  rich  to  a  most  uncom- 
monly uniform  degree,  almost  the  only  exceptions  being  occasional 
swamps,  usually  consisting  of  a  spongy  turf,  or  of  black  mould  or 
muck,  resting  on  white  sand.  Some  of  these  swamps  produce  only 
shrubs  and  moss;  others,  alders  and  long  rank  grass.  When  drained 
however,  they  make  excellent  meadow  land.  There  are  also  a  few 
tracts  termed  "  barrens,"  usually  of  a  whitish  sand,  and  producing 
only  a  few  dried  mosses  and  shrubs  ;  but  all  such  land  is  probably 
capable  of  improvement.     Some  of  the  salt  marshes  are  overflowed 


m% 


540 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


by  the  tide  ;  in  which  case  they  produce  a  strong  but  nutritious 
grass,  and  if  dyked,  very  heavy  crops  of  hay  or  grain. 

The  wliole  of  the  island  was  originally  covered  with  a  strong 
growth  of  forest  trees,  mostly  pine,  spruce,  hemlock,  beech,  birch 
and  maple.  There  are  many  large  poplars,  and  white  cedar  is  found 
in  the  northern  districts.  Oak,  elm,  ash,  and  larch,  are  not  very 
common,  and  the  wood  of  the  first  is  poor.  There  are  many  other 
smaller  trees.  Tremendous  fires  have  raged  in  the  forests  at  dill'or- 
enl  times,  and  the  tracts  laid  bare  by  their  fury  have  not  yet  always 
been  filled  by  a  second  growth.  These  fires  destroyed  large  (pian- 
tifies  of  pines,  and  large  (juantilies  more  have  been  used  for  houses 
and  shipbuilding ;  so  that  now  there  is  probably  no  more  than  is 
needed  for  the  island  itself.  iSarsaparilla,  ginseng,  and  other  medi- 
cinal plants,  abound.  Among  the  fruits  which  grow  wild,  are  an  as- 
tonishing profusion  of  ras[)berries,  strawber>'''es,  cranberries,  blue 
berries,  and  whortleberries. 

Among  the  native  quai!ru|)e(ls  are,  tlie  bear,  loup-cervior,  fox, 
liare,  otter,  muskrat,  mink,  wca.sel,  scpiirrel,  &c.  IJcurs  and  loup- 
cerviei's  formerly  made  much  havoc  among  Jlocks,  but  a  bounty  was 
given  for  their  destruction  by  government,  and  they  are  now  com- 
paratively rare.  Otters  and  martins  were  fornierly  plenty,  but  as 
well  as  the  muskrat,  have  been  so  much  hunted  as  to  become  scarce. 
In  the  early  |)art  of  the  pre.u'iit  century,  mice  were  so  pleiitii'ul  and 
destructive  that  they  have  been  known  to  destroy  a  whole  field  of 
wheat  in  one  night.  At  present  they  do  little  injury.  In  the  early 
days  of  the  colony,  the  walrus  used  to  frequent  its  shores  in  such 
numbers  that  a  considerable  profit  was  made  on  their  oil,  skins  and 
teeth.  They  have,  however,  not  been  seen  for  f<»rtv  or  filtv  venrs, 
thou'^h  still  sometimes  to  be  found  at  the  Magdalen  Islands  ami  other 
places  to  the  n»  rlhward.  The  harbor  seal  haunts  the  shuie  during 
.sunnner  and  autumn  ;  and  vast  numbers  of  harp  seals  sometimes 
float  into  the  neighl)orhood  on  ice  from  the  north. 

IJirds  of  all  kind.s  abound  ;  wild  geese,  brant,  wild  ducks,  wild 
pigeons,  and  partridges  are  all  pliMitiful  and  excellent  in  their  seasons, 
the  latter  being  protected  from  the  sportsman  by  a  law  of  tlur  |trov- 
iiKM'  prohibiting  .-^hooting  them  between  April  first  and  .September 
first. 

The  fish  and  shell  fish  of  the  waters  of  the  island  are  tho«;e  of  all 
the  waters  of  the  gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  its  tributary  streams. 
The  oysters   are   esteemed    remarkably  fine,  and  were  at  one  time 


PRINCE    EDWARD'S    ISLAND. 


541 


carried  off  in  such  quantities  to  Quebec  and  Halifax,  that  the  as- 
sembly passed  an  act,  in  1828^  prohibiting  their  export  for  a  consid- 
erable period. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that,  with  almost  unrivaled  advantages  of 
situation  and  harbors,  the  fisheries  should  liave  attracted  so  little 
attention  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  island.  It  is  true  that  the  fer- 
tility of  the  soil  is  no  less  remarkable  ;  but  it  would  naturally  be 
expected  that  the  more  adventurous  life  and  more  rapid  gains  of  the 
fisheries  would  have  had  as  much  jnlluence  here  as  they  have  had  in 
the  other  neighboring  provinces.  But  so  far  is  this  from  being  the 
case,  that  even  the  Charlotte  Town  market  is  but  ill  supplied  with 
fish,  and  the  exports  of  it  are  comparatively  trifling. 

Agriculture  is  the  principal  occupation  of  the  island  ;  and  one 
for  which  it  is  most  strikingly  adapted  by  the  almost  uniform  excel- 
lence of  its  soil,  and  the  favorable  nature  of  its  climate.  Wheat  is 
raised  in  abundance,  and  u  large  surplus  exported  ;  rye,  buckwheat, 
barley  and  oats,  all  produce  heavy  crops  of  excellent  quality  ;  beans 
and  peas,  and  all  kinds  of  esculent  roots  and  culinary  vegetables, 
grow  in  the  utmost  perfection.  Cherries,  plums,  currants  and  goose- 
berries, thrive  well.  The  apples  have  not  commonly  been  so  good, 
probably  from  poor  management,  as  careful  culture  has  produced 
some  excellent  ones,  and  the  climate  can  not  be  reckoned  unfavorable 
to  them,  since  some  trees  planted  by  the  French  before  1758  were 
bearing  well  in  1830.  Flax  and  all  the  grasses  grow  well ;  hemp 
and  Indian  -orn  do  not  seem  so  well  adai)ted  to  the  soil.  Potatoes 
are  a  large  and  staple  crop  of  the  island,  and  are  famous  for  their 
excellence,  not  only  at  home,  but  throughout  large  portions  of  British 
North  America  and  the  United  States,  llonses,  cattle,  sheep  and 
hogs,  thrive  well;  the  horsos,  many  of  which  are  of  the  Canadian 
breed,  are  remarkably  hardy  aiid  enduring.  There  is  only  one  cir- 
cumstance  unfavorable  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  this  merely  calls 
for  somewhat  increased  providence  for  the  future.  This  is  the 
length  of  the  winters,  which  renders  it  necessary  to  lay  in  a  largo 
quantity  of  fodder,  vi/.,  not  less  than  a  ton  of  hay  per  head  lor 
black  cattle,  and  in  a  corresponding  proportion  for  others.  Farms 
are  very  fretpiently  laid  out  in  long  strips,  of  ten  chains  front  and  u 
hundred  chains  deep.  This  is  inconvenient  on  sonic  accounts,  but 
secures  each  soltler  a  share  of  road  or  water  frontage. 

The  soil  produces  good  crops  instantly  on  being  redeemed  from 
the  forest,  and  is  seldom  exhausted  even  when  ({uitu  umnanured,  by 


t  i 


,1 


rz 


542 


AMERICA    ILLUSTRATED. 


the  longest  succession  of  them.  When  it  is,  or  where  it  is  deficient 
in  fertility,  stable  and  yard  manure  are  used,  or  resort  is  had  to  the 
vast  stores  of  sea-weed,  "  muscle-mud,"  which  is  a  natural  deposit 
of  muscles,  shells,  decayed  vegetable  matter,  &c.,  found  in  the  bays 
and  creeks,  and  even  to  the  ordinary  salt  mud  everywhere  found  in 
the  creeks,  all  of  which  possess  much  fertilizing  power,  and  the  Hrst 
two  a  very  remarkable  degree  of  it. 

The  climate  is  singularly  healthful.  The  winters  are  long  and 
severe,  and  the  summers  warm,  vegetation  coming  forward  with 
wonderful  quickness.  But  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  are  not  so 
great  as  in  Canada ;  the  fogs  of  parts  of  Nova  Scotia,  Cape  Breton 
and  Newfoundland  are  unknown,  and  the  air  is  clear,  dry,  bracing, 
and  peculiarly  healthful.  No  intermittent  fevers  are  known,  and 
those  sudcring  with  them  soon  recover.  Invalids  and  feeble  persons 
very  frequently  regain  health  and  strength  on  taking  up  a  residence  on 
the  island  ;  and  consumption  is  seldom  met  with.  It  is  by  no  means  un- 
common to  meet  persons  of  ninet)'  or  one  hundred  years  old,  still  able 
to  labor  in  the  open  air,  and  who  have  never  known  a  day's  sickness. 

The  conmierce  of  the  island  has  consisted  in  part  of  the  sale  of 
ships,  fishing  vessels,  &c.,  to  England  or  the  other  colonies,  and  in 
part  of  the  exj)ort  of  the  products  of  its  agriculture  and  the  corres- 
ponding itnport  trade.  The  exhaustion  of  the  forests,  however,  has 
decreased  the  attention  paid  to  ship-building  ;  while  the  other  branch 
of  commerce  has  grown  with  the  increase  of  population  and  of  fann- 
ing. As  early  as  in  the  days  of  the  French  dominion,  such  large 
supplies  were  drawn  from  Prince  Edward's  Island  for  Louisbuui!:. 
Quebec  and  other  fortresses  and  settlements,  that  it  was  surnaiiR'd 
the  granary  of  North  America;  and  it  is  said  that  individual  farmers 
then  frequently  ex|)orted  1,200  bushels  a  year  of  grain.  Tiie  whole 
e.\[>orts  of  the  year  1850  were  estimated  at  a  value  of  £05,1J)S  ;  and 
of  imports,  €120,005.  In  1851  the  exports  wne  to  the  anioinit  of 
£72,003,  of  which  about  one-third  was  sent  to  the  I'nitL'd  States, 
including  222,100  bushels  oats,  17,020  bushels  barlfy,  -15,012  bushels 
potatoes,  3,000  l)ushels  turnips,  1,700  p.iunds  wool,  1,7N(>  l)arrels 
pickled  fish,  050  tjuintals  dried  fish,  sixty  cwt.  iron,  and  2.215  hack- 
matack knees. 

The  mamifactiuTsof  the  island  are  principally  of  linen  and  flannel 
for  home  use.  There  were  in  18 IH,  twenty-seven  canlitiir  mills, 
thirtet-n  breweries  and  distilleries,  110  grist  mills,  1,'JO  saw-mills,  and 
21U  threshing  muchincs. 


r 


